The ritual of temperance, and state hygiene ; contributions towards a rationale in national healthiness.

  • Pattin, H. Cooper.
Date:
[1905]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The ritual of temperance, and state hygiene ; contributions towards a rationale in national healthiness. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    water, on the other hand, must not be used for infusing the tea, or you may extract a bitter from the leaf which will prove disagreeable in flavour. Practically all the caffeine, or theine as it is some- times called, which, remember, is the stimulant, you drink tea to procure, practically all the caffeine dissolves out of the tea leaves in the course of three minutes. A sage preparer of tea will therefore not infuse his tea for a longer period. Lengthier infusion only increases the dispropor- tionate solution of tannic acid, which astringent no sensible respecter of his interior will want to swallow unless he or she have chronically relaxed mucous membranes. On the expiration of three minutes the tea in solution should be decanted from the leaves, either into the cup from which it will be drank, or into a containing vessel, warmed previously. It is well to pour away the first half- cupful of the brew, as a fine sort of scum will thus commonly be got rid of. No second infusion ought ever to be made from one set of leaves. Any such solution is bound to be virtually a solution of tannin—good to use as a gargle for a relaxed throat, doubtless, but certainly not good to apply to even a long-suffering stomach. Caffeinic stimulants, like the alcoholic, are best taken with meals. Tea should not be drank by itself unless it be dilute and as free as possible from tannic acid. Whenever so taken, a little cream or milk should be added. Milk is said to