DUNCAN, Daniel.

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Wholesome Advice Against the Abuse of Hot Liquors, Particularly of Coffee, Chocolate, Tea, Brandy, and Strong-Waters. First edition in English of this early medical warning against the excessive consumption of coffee, tea, chocolate, and spirits.Duncan (1649-1735) was a French Huguenot physician. The work arose from his treatment of the Landgravine of Hesse in 1699. Attributing her illness largely to overindulgence in tea, coffee, and chocolate, he wrote this treatise to warn against their abuse. After circulating privately in manuscript, it was published in French in 1705 at the suggestion of Duncan's friend, the physician Herman Boerhaave.Duncan argues that excessive consumption of hot drinks impairs taste and appetite, thins the blood, and inflames the liver and spleen. Nevertheless, he maintains that their effects depend on the drinker's constitution and advocates moderation rather than abstinence.

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