I now proceed to consider the peculiar Virtues commonly supposed to reside in _Tea_, but which I assert are equally to be found in _European_ Plants; for the _Chinese_ are guilty of a fulsome Exaggeration, when they assert that it has a Tendency to prolong Life. The Virtues, then, of the _Tea_, seem to be most accurately described by _Rhodius_ and _Martinius_, who seem to have reduced them to three Heads; the first of which, according to _Rhodius_, is, that it alleviates Pains of the Head, and represses Vapours: The second, that it corroborates the Stomach: And, the third, that it expels the Stone and Gravel from the Kidneys. These Virtues are, by _Martinius_, recited in the following Order: To the drinking of this warm Liquor, it is said to be owing, that the _Chinese_ are Strangers to the Gout and Stone. When drank after Meals, it removes Crudities and Indigestion. When exhibited to drunken Persons, it affords them Relief, and prevents the bad Consequences of Surfeits; for it is of a drying Nature, carries off superfluous Humours, expels somniferous Vapours, and removes the languid State of Students, who are oppressed by long Application. These Virtues are, at present, to be carefully examined. I shall not here speak of those Qualities, which are the Result of its Temperature; since I before evinced, that the whole Substance of the _Tea_ was grateful to the Brain; but at the same time shewed, from a singular Observation, that _Betony_ was possessed of the same Virtues and Qualities.
First, then, it is asserted of _Tea_, that it removes the bad Consequences of Surfeits, because it is of a drying Nature, and carries off superfluous Humours: The same Effects are also produced by _Betony_: But as for the Expulsion of somniferous Vapours, and removing the languid State of hard Students; these Properties are more frequently ascribed to the true _Myrtle_, than to _Betony_; which, however, as we shall afterwards shew, is also recommended against Intoxication.
The second Virtue of _Tea_ macerated in warm Water, is, that it corroborates the Stomach; which Effect is also remarkably produced by _Betony_.
The third Virtue it is said to be possessed of, is, that it frees the Kidneys from Stones and Gravel; for which Reason, according to _Martinius_, the _Chinese_ are Strangers to nephritic and arthritic Disorders. _Betony_ remarkably produces this Effect, and, at the same time, is a powerful Preservative against the Gout. The other Qualities of _Tea_, enumerated by other Authors: I shall not here mention, that I may, at more Length, compare it with _Betony_. The Reader may, however, consult my _Quadripartitium_, and _Antonius Musa_, who, in _Libell. de Betonica_, affirms, that _Betony_ is possessed of so excellent medicinal Virtues, that it cures no less than forty-seven Disorders; which none of the _Chinese_ have ever dared to assert, concerning their _Tea_: The _Asiatic Tea_ is, therefore, far inferior to the _European Betony_. The same Author affirms, "That _Betony_, previously taken, prevents Intoxication." By which Words, _Musa_ insinuates, that it guards against a Surfeit, and, consequently, frees us from Drowsiness; so that the whole Substance of it is equally grateful and refreshing to the Brain with _Tea_. It were to be wished, that this Physician had directed the Method of preparing _Betony_, in order to prevent Intoxication; by which Means the _Europeans_ would, in all Probability, have been encouraged to greater Care and Diligence in cultivating, drying, and separating the small from the large Leaves of our _Chamelæagnus_, a Decoction of whose Flowers would have been as grateful to them as that of the _Chinese Tea_ is to them. But if any should foolishly dread the Use of the _Chamelæagnus_, which, however, is much used, and greatly extolled in _Denmark_, and the Lower _Saxony_; such Persons may, I think, substitute _Betony_ in its Room. But, if a Physician should order an _European_ Cobler, or Day-Labourer, frequently to use a Decoction of _Betony_, they would sneeringly bid him use his insipid Water himself. But the Custom of drinking _Tea_ only prevails, because it is a new Thing, unknown to the Forefathers of the _Chinese_, and is imported from _Asia_ into _Europe_, whose Inhabitants of all Ranks are so excessively fond of it, on account of its grateful Bitter, and sub-astringent Taste: The same may be said of the _Indian Chocolate_, and the Water impregnated with the _Chavva_ of the _Persians_, since these three Liquors have generally no more grateful a Taste, than a Decoction of coarse _European_ Pears, or what the _Germans_ call a _Pear-souse_.