In the Critic and Guide for February, 1916, page 68, is quoted, an extract from an article published by Thomas Garway in 1660, which is entitled "An Exact Description of the Growth, Quality, and Virtues of the Leaf Tea." According to this author the particular virtues of tea are these:

It maketh the body active and lusty.

It helpeth the headache, giddiness and heaviness thereof.

It removeth the obstructions of the spleen.

It taketh away the difficulty of breathing, opening obstruction.

It is good against turpitude, distillations, and cleareth the sight.

It removeth lassitude, and cleanseth and purifieth acrid humors, and a hot liver.

It is good against crudities, strengthening the weakness of the ventricle or stomach, causing good appetite and digestion, and particularly for men of corpulent body, and such as are great eaters of flesh.

It vanquisheth heavy dreams, easeth the frame, and strengtheneth the memory.

It overcometh superfluous sleep, and prevents sleepiness in general, a draught of the infusion being taken; so that, without trouble, whose nights may be spent in study without hurt to the body, in that it moderately healeth and bindeth the mouth of the stomach.

It prevents and cures agues, surfets and fevers, by infusing a fit quantity of the leaf, thereby provoking a most gentle vomit and breathing of the pores, and hath been given with wonderful success.

It strengtheneth the inward parts, and prevents consumption; and powerfully assuageth the pains of the bowels, or griping of the guts, and looseness.