Beverages

A physiological instinct scchis to impel mankind to tho use of certain unintoxicating, non-nareotic beverages, like tea, coil'oe, and cocoa, vegetable infusions or dococtions, containing as astrlngent principie, and a volatile and crystalíiznble body, rich in nitrogen. They aro used irom the equator to tho {températe regions, and in both heinisphures ; in Central America wa íind chocolate, in South Araerica the mate or Paruguay tea (lea ves 'of a species of ƒ■), in the E&st and West Indios und South Ameri ca coLfeo, in China, tea ; tho American Indians have their wintergreen and marsh tea (Isedum) ; in Ireland and elsewhere, shells, or the husks of the cocoa, are used. We find these beverages used in all eountries, and in everj condition of life, and they must meet an important physiological want; they contain essentially tho same chemical conipound, and it is not a littlo remarkable tliat they should have be'n seljc:tod from sueh different classes of the vegetable kingdom. Tho nitrogenous principie, whether tuine from tea, eaffáne from cotfee, or ii, mine from eocoa, secms to be adapted to repair the cxh;uisted brain and nervous tissue. These bevorages also retard tho waste of the tissues, diininishing the Eunount oi urca and phosphates cxereted, and rendering the necossary quantity of food less, at the samo timestimulatin'r (In1 nervous systom íind ener skin. Uld pcople un: fond of thcir tea; it lessens the deeay of their tissues as nutrition begina to fail ; it oils, as it wcre, the mach of their bodies, and, by diminishi:; i'riction, enables it t last lojiger. physiologista think that these aubstancea increase he ivspiratory funotions and the exoretion of carbonio acid by the lunga and the skin ; promote tho transtonnation of starchy and fatty fooda in the albuminoos, and leasen the animal hat by exciting porspimtion. Whatevertbey do, seven huudivd ïnillions of human beins use tlicm, and, doubtleas, from a physiologioal neoossity, as yet not satistaoterily explained. Condiments, like salt, popper, mustard, and spioeSi in: stimulants to tho diseitive organs, promoting tho flow of sa'iv;i, gastrie juice, and intestinal neoretione ; thus aiiimg digestión and the peristaltio jnovKments of the alumntaiv canal. By giving flavor to food, nntritious though insijiid, or spoiled in cooking, thoy incre ise the appetite by giving a relish, and often enablc us to eat wneh otherwím the Bystom tnight sulfer. They also supply iion, phosphorus, and other mineral ingredients ncoess;iry for the blood, i tissues, and secretions. - Oood Health. The question of raising the tropical fruit known aslinMH, in tbis dimate, ího( las) setÜed aatisfaotoiály. Mr. Gi . lat winter, a half-buahel ■ li{?5,t slaok liinr: on liis farm, and didn't niiso n confoundod liine. Probably he negk-cted to mulch tho roots.