d that this increase is particularly
evident with milk. Dr. R.O. Neumann[2] (who fed himself with cocoa
preparations for over twelve weeks), whilst not agreeing with this
conclusion, states that: "The consumption of cocoa from the point of
view of health leaves nothing to be desired. The taking of large or
small quantities of cocoa, either rich or poor in fat, with or without
other food, gave rise to no digestive troubles during the 86 days which
formed the duration of the experiments." He considers that cocoas
containing a high percentage of cacao butter are preferable to those
which contain low percentages, and that a 30 per cent. butter content
meets all requirements. It is worthy of note that 28 to 30 per cent. is
the quantity of butter found in ordinary high-class cocoas.

[1] _Hygienische Rundschau_, 1900, p. 305.

[2] _Die Bewertung des Kakaos als Nahrungs- und Genussmittel_,
1906.

As experts are liable to disagree, and it is almost possible to prove
anything by a judicious selection from their writings, it may be well to
give an extract from some modern text book as more nearly expressing the
standard opinion of the times. In _Second Stage Hygiene_, by Mr. Ikin
and Dr. Lyster, a text book written for the Board of Education Syllabus,
we read, p. 96: "... in the better cocoas the greater part of the fat is
removed by heat and pressure. In this form cocoa may be looked upon as
almost an ideal food, as it contains proteids, fats, and carbohydrates
in roughly the right proportions. Prepared with milk and sugar it forms
a highly nutritious and valuable stimulating beverage."

_Stimulating Property of Cocoa._

The mild stimulating property which cocoa possesses is due to the
presence of the two substances, theobromine and caffein. The presence of
theobromine is peculiar to cocoa, but caffein is a stimulating principle
which also occurs in tea and coffee. Whilst in the quantities in which
they are present in cocoa (about 1.5 per cent. of theobromine and 0.6
per cent. of caffein) they act only as agreeable stimulants, in the pure
condition, as white crystalline powders, they are powerful curative
agents. Caffein is well known as a specific for nervous headaches, and
as a heart stimulant and diuretic. Theobromine is similar in action, but
has the advantage for certain cases, that it has much less effect on the
central nervous system, and for this reason it is a very valuable
medicine for sufferer