The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-11-10
WHITE AND BROWN BREAD.-UN-
FERMENTED BREAD.

Severalyears ago we threw out the sur
mise that the separation Of the white from the
brown parts OF wheat grain was likely TO be
banelul TO health. We proceed upon tlIco-
reiical ground, believing ihaI Providence
must lave contemplated our using the entire
grain and not a portion only. selected by
means ola nicely arranged machinery. 1t
struck US forcibly that TO 90 on, for a long
course of years. thus using a kind of food
different from what nature designed, could
not .ail 10 be attended with bad %consequen-
ces. We have since learned that our views
have SOM recognized support in science
The following paragraph from Il recent pam
phlet will al once serve 10 keep the subject
alive in the minds of our readers. and explain
the actual grounds OH which the separation
of -four is detrimental:-'The general belief,
says the writer, is hat bread made of the
finest -four is the best, and that whitehess is
the proof of IFS quality ; but both olthese o
~piniOns are popular errors. The witness
may be, and generally is, communicated by
alum, 10 the injury of the consumer: and ii
is known by men of science That the bread Of
unrefned -four will sustain life, while that
made with he refined will not. Keep a man
on brown bread and wafer only, and he will
OIduUdl1 SlfktH anu uc liC iHCdl Vi WIFI
the first is made contains all The ingredients
necessary 10 the composition OF nourishmeni
OF the various structure composing our bo-
dies. Some of these ingredients are emoved
bv The miller in his efforts TO please the pub
lie; so that fine -four. instead ofbeing better
than the meal, is the least nourishing; and
10 make the ease worse. ii j. also the mos.
difficult Of digestion.-The loss is. therefore,
=. "a. 1z.--tI
that the admirers OF white bread but espe-
cially the poor should be made acquainted
with these truths and brought 10 inquire
whether they do not purchase 1T too dear a
rate the privilege o~findulging in the Use oil H.
The unwise preference given so universally
TO white bread, led 10 the pernicious practice
of mixing alum with the -four, and this again
10 all sorts Of authorizations and imposiIions ;
for it enabled bakers, who were so disposed.
by adding more and more alum. 10 make
bread from the -four of an inferior grain look
like the best and most costly, or 10 dispose o.
it accordingly; al once defrauding the pur-
chaser, and tampering with his health. A
mong the matters removed by The miller are
the larger saline substances, which are in
dispensable TO the growthof the bones and
teeth, and arc required. although in a less
degree, for daily repair. Brown bread should
therefore, be given 10 nurses, and 10 The
young or the growing, and should be pre-
ferred by all, Of whatever age. whose bones
show a tendancy TO bend, or who have week
teeth. Ii is believed that brown bread will
generally be found the best by all persons
having sluggish bowels, and stomachs equal
to the digestion Of the bran. But with some
it will disagree for it is too exciting TO ir-
rItabie bowels, and is Dissolved with difficulty
in some stomachs. When this happens, the
bran should be removed, either wholly or in
part; and by such means the bread may be
adapted, with the greatest ease, TO all habits
and all constitutions
Mr.. Smith in his late remarkable work on
Fruits and Farinacea as the food Of man,
gives some illustrations Of this doctrine.
Bulk he says, is nearly as necessary to The
articles ofdiet as the nutrient principle. They
should be so managed that nne will be in pro-
portion 10 the other. Too highly nutritive