lly, and
as it presents itself to our Senses. We come next to examine its
intrinsick Qualities, and to search into its Nature: As far as we can,
we will discover what Reason, join'd to long Experience, has taught us
concerning the salutary Properties of this Fruit.

CHAP. I.

Of the old Prejudices against Chocolate.

To proceed more methodically, and with greater Clearness in our
Enquiries concerning _Chocolate_, it seems proper to set People right
about the Prejudices which a false Philosophy has instilled into most
Authors who have wrote upon this Subject; the Impressions whereof, are
yet very deeply ingraven in the Minds of a great Number of People.

The _Spaniards_, who were first acquainted with Chocolate after the
Conquest of the new World, have laid it down for an undoubted Truth,
that _Chocolate_ is cold and dry, participating of the Nature of Earth.
They have supported this Determination neither with Reason nor
Experience; nor do they know from whence they learnt it; perhaps they
have taken it upon the Words, and from the Tradition of the Inhabitants
of the Country. Let that be as it will, it is natural from false
Principles to draw false Conclusions, of which the two principal are as
follow.

The first is, That Chocolate being by Nature cold, it ought not to be
used without being mixed with Spices, which are commonly hot, that so
they might, both together, become temperate and wholesome. This was the
Jargon and Practice of those Times. For the same Reason the ancient
Physicians erroneously imagining that _Opium_ was cold in the fourth
Degree, never fail'd to correct this pretended Coldness in their
narcotick Compositions, with Drugs extremely hot, as _Euphorbium_,
_Pellitory_, _Pepper_, &c.

Their second Conclusion was, That Chocolate being dry and earthy, and
from thence supposed to be of a styptick and astringent Quality; if it
was not corrected, must necessarily breed Obstructions in the _Viscera_,
and bring on a Cacochimy, and a great Number of other incurable
Diseases.

These Prejudices have from the _Spaniards_ pass'd into other Nations. To
prove this, it will be unnecessary to cite a great Number of Authors,
for whoever has read one, has read them all, the later having done
nothing but copy the former; they have even sometimes improved their
Dreams, and exaggerated this pretended Coldness of Chocolate, and at
length push'd the Matter so far, as to make it a kind of cold Poison;
and if