On cafe culture

- Published: 28 March, 2008

Page 35

Our revered doctor would have something to say about our modern-day fixation with caffeine. Not one for popping down his local Starbucks, or its 19th Century equivalent, listening to this frightening account leads one to believe that he was supping a pretty potent brew.

On cafe culture: "Tea and coffee I have practically given up since 1886. I found they made me nervous, fidgety, anxious, low-spirited, and took away some of my energy. Tea made me tremble, gave me brilliant, but false ideas, and confused both speech and writing; coffee gave me wind and colic and took my memory away for hours, so I have given both up."