Coffee, so universally used as a beverage and as an article of diet, cannot be passed without mention. Haig condemns it for the lithaemic individual, but condemns tea more. Its composition is given as follows: Water, 1.15; fat, 14.48; crude fibre, 19.89; ash, 4.75; caffeine, 1.24; albuminoids, 13.98; other nitrogenous matter, 45.09; sugar, gum, and dextrin, 1.66. This is the analysis of the coffee-bean. Of course, the beans vary in quality and strength. In excess it produces restlessness and tremulousness in man, according to Dr. H. C. Wood and other authorities, but these troubles are rather spinal than cerebral.

In proper doses, not too large, caffeine stimulates the heart; in poisonous doses, overcomes it. It increases arterial pressure independently of the vasomotor centres, Dr. H. C. Wood declares; so, altogether it may do good in some neurotic conditions, in some heart affections, and where we want diuresis. Where we wish to avoid increased blood-pressure, watch it. If very strong, it retards digestion and puts away sleep from weary eyes. Some students use it to keep awake in order to force work. This is a practice to be reprobated on all sides. Like all others of its kind, it has many good uses, and may be, and doubtless is, subject to much abuse in its excessive use.

We see many advertisements in the daily papers telling of the horrors which result from the use of coffee and lauding substitutes. This method of raising prejudice against coffee is not fair to coffee and to coffee interests. It is not science; it is commercialism pure and simple - and not honorable commercialism either. Pay no attention to such interested statements.