it was taken to Excess, it would bring on a Consumption[1].

"Mexiaci friget nativa Cocai Temperies, tantoq; excedit Frigore ut
inter noxia ne dubitem glandes censere Venena." _Thom. Strozzae_ de Mentis
potu seu de Cocolatis Opificio, _lib. 3_.

"Hinc siquis solo Cocolatis Fomite Vitam extrahat, atq; assueta neget
Cibi Prandia, sensim contrahet exsueto marcentem Corpora Tabem."

It is not very extraordinary that People who are more ready to _believe_
than to _examine_, (such as the World is full of) should give into the
unanimous Opinion of so many Authors; and it would be strange if they
were not carry'd down by the Stream of a Prejudice so general. But I
cannot sufficiently admire that _Chocolate_ being so much decry'd, has
not been entirely laid aside as unfit for Use; without doubt there was
nothing but the daily Experience of its good Effects, which could
support it, and hinder it from giving way to Calumny.

Now to overturn this old System, it is sufficient, in my Opinion, to
observe with how little Skill and Penetration they then treated of the
whole Natural History; one ought not to be amazed that they have
affirmed _Chocolate_ to be cold and dry, in an Age when, for Example,
they could say _Camphire_ was cold and moist, which is a kind of Resin,
from whence one Drop of Water cannot be extracted, whose sharp Taste,
and penetrating Smell, joined to the extreme Volatility and
Inflammability of its Particles, even in Water itself, are such evident
Signs of its Heat, that it is difficult to conceive upon what account
they persuade themselves of the contrary.

The Qualities of Chocolate are not indeed so remarkable, nor so active,
as those of Camphire; but, with the least Attention, one may easily
discern, that the Quantity of Oil that it contains, and the Bitterness
that is perceivable in Tasting, are not the Marks of Coldness, since all
Bitters are esteem'd hot, and since Oil is a Matter very near a-kin to,
and necessary for Fire. This is very near the Reasoning of a celebrated
Physician at _Rome_[2] against the old Opinion: _As for me_, says he, _I
am of another Judgment; I believe that Chocolate is rather _temperate_
than _cold_, and I refer my self to the Decision of every ingenious
Person that will be at the pains to taste and examine it._

These Reflections will be farther confirmed in the first Section of the
following Chapter, where we shall experimentally demonstrate that
Chocolate is a Substance very