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.