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 to untruss a Point, and thought no place so proper for it us that where it had been rested. (This is mention'd as an Instance of that Creature's Ingratitude to its Benefactor.) In short, it left something at the Root of the Tree which did not smell very pleasant in the Noses of them who liv'd at that time. It had a strange Effect also upon the Tree, for it made it retain its Smell, and instead of not affecting Peoples Noses at all, affect them in a very disagreeable manner; so that they made as little use of it for a long time after, as they do of Hemlock in Ireland: But succeeding Ages differ'd very much from their Forefathers; for it happen'd that a Lady, famous for her great Knowledge of the Virtues of Plants, (I am heartily sorry I cannot remember her Name) took some of the Leaves of this Tree, and boil'd them to find out their Qualities, and after much Study assur'd her female Friends, that those Leaves were very wholesome, and that Water in which they were boil'd, contributed much to the dilating the urinary Passages, and by that means wou'd keep them from the Stone or Gravel; but the disagreeable Smell and Taste of 'em might be corrected by Ingredients fit to please those Senses which the Tea Leaves offended. Her Advice was follow'd by those she had any Influence on, and they chose Tea Water for their Breakfast; but they took so much of it at several times in the Day, and put so much Sugar in it, that they began to be troubled with Diseases which they might have been free from, had they never changed their Diet. But the Lady who recommended it to 'em, cou'd not bear that her Counsel shou'd be neglected, and at last persuaded 'em that it had no disagreeable Taste or Smell at all, and ought to be taken with but little or no Sugar, if they intended it shou'd do 'em any good. They were easily inclin'd to believe her, since they were already great Admirers of several stinking Things, and valu'd 'em for stinking, such as Cream-Cheeses, Venison, &c. so that in a short Time from a few, the Folly became epidemical.