Death Due to Tea Drinking

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 19, 1908

Death Due to Tea Drinking

No doubt many deaths are indirectly due to the dyspepsia, anemia, and other diseases which result from the habitual use of tea. It is not often, however, that the coroner attaches the blame to the tea, as was done in the case of a man who died in London recently. The Londoner ate a supper of boiled beef, and then had some tea. Early the following morning he was taken ill, and died before a doctor could be summoned. A medical man who made the post-mortem examination said the stomach contained undigested food, and was distended. This, acting on a weak heart, caused heart failure. A verdict of “Death from syncope, weak heart, and indigestion caused by tea drinking” was returned.

Many lessons may be drawn from this report, not the least important of which is the fact that it is dangerous to go to sleep soon after eating, especially when foods difficult of digestion have been taken. The absorption of poisons from undigested food which lies like a lump in the stomach, is an adequate cause for a degree of brain and heart paralysis which sometimes results in death.—Australasian Good Health.