It may be of some use in our inquiries to consider its effects
where it has been long and universally used. Of Japan we know
little at present: of China we have more recent accounts; from
these it appears, that Tea of some kind, coarser or finer, is drank
plentifully by all degrees of people; the general provision of the
lower ranks especially is rice, their beverage Tea. The superior
classes of people drink Tea; but they likewise partake of animal
food, and live freely.
Of their diseases we know but little, nor what effects Tea may have
in this respect. They seldom or never bleed. The late Dr. Arnot, of
Canton, a gentleman who did his profession and his country honour,
and was in the highest estimation with the Chinese, I am informed,
was the first person who could ever prevail upon any of the Chinese
to be blooded[90], be their maladies what they might. It would appear
from hence, that inflammatory diseases were not frequent among them;
otherwise a nation, who seem so fond of life as the Chinese are
reputed to be, would by some means or other have admitted of this
almost only remedy in such cases. May we infer from hence, that
inflammatory diseases are less frequent in China, than in some other
countries, and that one cause of this may be the constant and liberal
use of this infusion? Perhaps, if we take a view of the slate of
diseases, as exactly described a century ago, and compare it with
what we may observe at present, we may have a collateral support
for this suggestion. If we consider the frequency of inflammatory
diseases in Sydenham’s time, who was both a consummate judge of these
diseases, and described them faithfully, I believe we shall find they
were then much more frequent than they are present; at least, if
any deference is due to the observations of judicious persons, who
mostly agree, that genuine inflammatory diseases are much more rare
at present, than they were at the time when Sydenham wrote. It is
true, this disposition, admitting it be fact, may arise from various
causes; amongst the rest, it is not improbable, Tea may have its
share.