Drinks restore the fluid parts of the body, are a vehicle for other aliments, and render digestion easy. Water is the principal, the most wholesome, and most necessary for life. Soft water is best,which may be known by its lathering readily with soap, and is the greatest dissolvent in nature; for which reason it will cure many indisposi-tions; but used too constantly and freely, it relaxes and weakens the solids, and brings cachexies, drop-sies, and other diseases.

Wine is never prejudicial to health, but when used too freely, or in a morning as a whet, and then it hardens the fibres, hurts the nerves, dimi nishes the secretions, destroys the appetite, and causes tedious chronical diseases. The same maybe said of rum, brandy, and other spirituous liquors. Wine drank moderately, slrengthens the stomach,procures digestion,chears the fpirits,warms the imagination, helps the memory, invigorates the blood, passes off by urine, and is a principal remedy in low nervous fevers.

Malt-Liquors that are fine, clear, and light, are grateful to the stomach, pass off easily and freely by urine. They do not create a heaviness of the head, nor a sourness of the stomach, nor fill the body with wind : this depends greatly on the good-ness of the water, the boiling the ingredients in a due manner, and causing it to undergo a proper fermentation.

Vinegar is astringent and cooling, a small quantity whets the appetite, helps digestion, corrects the bile, and is excellent against the plague and other contagious diseases; but taken in large quantities, it hurts the nerves, is pernicious to those that are lean and spare, to those that have weak breads, that are troubled with a cough, that have a difficulty of breathing, or are troubled with melancholy disorders. Many persons who have drank vinegar, to make them lean, have fallen into incurable consumptions. It agrees best with hot constitutions.

Cider : When it is strong, sweet, and rich, has much the same qualities as wine, but it is not so heating, and quenches thirst better. It is likewise of greater use in the scurvy, and to prevent the breeding of the stone and gravel, for this disease is seldom known where they drink little else but cider. Rough cider is more astringent, and as some think more conducive to health; but neither kind will agree with some constitutions, which can be only known by experience.

Perry has much the same properties as cider; but when it is good, it comes nearest the nature of white wine.

Mead strengthens the stomach, excites the appetite, chears the spirits, helps the breathing, is good in coughs and the wind colic. When it is new, it sits heavy on the stomach, and often cau-ses vomiting.

Chocolate is very nourishing, restorative, and proper to re-establish the strength and vigour; it helps digestion, softens sharp humours that offend the lungs, is provocative and resists the malignity of humours.

Coffee strengthens the stomach and brain, clears the head, helps digestion, and represses the fumes of wine; but in some it hinders sleep, and causes a trembling of the nerves.

Tea is good in diseases of head and nerves, prevents sleepiness, chears the spirits,represses vapours, helps digestion, promotes urine, purifies the blood, and promotes perspiration.