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shrubby tree of northeastern tropical Africa widely cultivated in tropical or near tropical regions for its seed which form most of the commercial coffee

shrubby tree of northeastern tropical Africa widely cultivated in tropical or near tropical regions for its seed which form most of the commercial coffee

The infusion of coffee is an agreeable and wholesome article of diet. It is, to a certain extent, a tonic, and is employed as such in convalescence, especially from fevers, &c. In cases of poisoning by opium, and in old asthmas, its use has been extolled. For this purpose the Moka is the best. It ought to be newly torrefied, but not too much burnt; should be strong, and drunk soon after grinding. A highly azoted alkaloid was first in coffee, and called Cafein or Caffein. It was afterwards discovered in the leaves of the tea plant, and called Thein, and in the Guarana of Brazil, and called Guaranin. In doses from 2 to 10 grains, it induces violent nervous and vascular excitement. Caffein- well as its various salts- the citrate, lactate, malate, and muriate, have given as an antiperiodic in grain doses. Factitious Coffee have been, from time to time, recommended, but they are infinitely inferior to the genuine. Various substitutes have been proposed; wheat, barley, hollyberries, acrons, sunflower seeds, beech-mast, peas, beans, succory-root, seeds of gooseberries and currants left in making wine, and washed, - sliced turnips, &c. These have been roasted, with the addition of a little butter or oil: but they have not the aroma of coffee. The best substitute is said to be the seeds of the Yellow water flag, Gladialus luteusor Iris pseudacorus, Hunts Oeconomical Breakfast Powder consisted of rye, roasted with a little butter.

The coffee plant, the original source of most of the coffee in cultivation. [Arab.]