The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-08-22

motive of health.
1t has always appeared to me that the
preference given to bread made of SUI
perfae flour, was a mistake in our diete-
tick system.
Gram consists of mucildge or starch,
and Gnimulized matter called by the
French chemists vegeto-animal. OF the
former there are three, and of the lat
ter two ffths, in good wheat; and this
latter (wah resin and sometimes oily is
contained in the outer coat, or skin;
which is called ofal, by those who, by
every means in their power, detach it
in the manufacture of fine -four. Yet
good and well-made bread depends on
the admi1ture of both these substances,
in due proportions. In such proportions
they must exist, to constitute wholesome
and good meal or flour. They exist in
the grain, in state Of mechanical
mixture and not of chemical union
This union is accomplished in grain,
by the process of termination, or malt
ing. The result is saccharine matter, or
sugar; which, until this union, was not
possessed perfectly by either of the
parts. The operations of fermenting,
and baking the flour so as to form it into
good and wholesome bread, produce the
like union and effect. This account and
analysis are taken from celebrated
writers.
By this statement it seems TO me, that
the more the vegeto-animal part is de-
tached, in refining the flour, the more
the necessary proportions are destroyed;
and the less nutritive and healthtul this
esculent becomes, there is the less of
the materials necessary to form sugar,
which of itself is highly nutritious
Crews of ships in distress, have been
sustained on sugar alone, for great
length of time. Nature has provided
all the parts of the grain to correct the
qualities OF each other; and all to assist
in the uses designed. The finer the
flour, the more of the aliment is def
cient; and the more must be required of
the residuumfor sustenance.* After the
grade of perhaps the best middlings, all
the other and extra manufacture is to
crafty prejudice of education, and hab-
it. 1t is questionable whether those
who value themselves on being I" sworn
at Highgaie" gain, in this over-refned
qualification, any solid advantages. /
am well aware that nothing | can say,
will induce them to violate their oath.
The Old King of Prussia's soldiers
ate, on acampaign, little of any thing
farinaceops, except ammunition bread.
This was made of the grain triturated
or ground but not bolted; being pass
ed through hand-seives, which detach-
ed no great proportion of the coat of the
grain. The Dutch sailors were supplied
with such bread and chiefly made of
rye.f Since our flour-miils have gain
ed such high perfection in their capaci-
ty to manufacture superfine -four. the
ship-bread In my estimation) is, by no
means, so sweet and nutritive, as that
made of the ship stuff of former times.
The oil and animalized matter of the
coat or skin correct the costiYe quail
ties of the starch or mucilage, and add
to the alimertary properties. Whether
= An infusion of bran or offal of grain, is
highly nutritiye and the longer it is macer-
ated, so as to avoid calculating, the better
But sour food is the most gratefsl and alimen-
tary to swine. One gallon of sour rash goes
farther than two Of sweet. Dry rotten acoOd
should be constantly in the pen that the hogs,
when confined for fatting, may eat at pleasure.
Nature points out this absorbent Cor whatever
it may Beg as remedy or preventive. They
will leave their food to deUour the rotten wood,
when they require it.. | have not lost fat
ting hog for more than thirty years, when
used it; but have suffered by neglecting it,
Some of my neighbours met with frequent loss
es of fattening hogs, till | informed them of
my practice of which was told by wom-
an from East-Jersey, before our revolutionary
war. She said it was then known and practis-
ed there.
tAlthough the Dutch ship-bread is, in ap-
pearance, disgusting, yet l risque the disap-
probation Of those of better taste, by saying
that is by no means so to the palate, if ate
without prejudice; as it is by those for whose
use it is made. A ludicrous accident (Which
relate naso Peric~lo) made this discovery to
me, some years ago. was Investigating into
a controversy brought before me, on the adj
miralty side of the District Court, by some IL
naercGn seamen, who complained against their
captain, under the Act of Congress, giving
one days pay to every mariner unnecessarily
put on short allowance during voyage !;
which in this case was from .Anlsterddn,.-