The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-09-07
ANALYSIS OF EOoG.

! Ah' iOioNiHS l"A'VSpP''S """' SiS
Of the element of food, have been
furnished by a scientific friend 10
the editor Of the Newark Daily Adj
vcrtiSer. If correct the analysis
and deductions form matter for
wide range of inquiry, which cannot
but elicit much interest:
( "The various simple elements
which form the human constitution,
are derived from food which is eth
er dire city or indirectly derived from
vegetables, and these are derived
from the ground. The only excep-
tionS to this routine are common salt,
water, and the air which we breathe.
But what are the elements constitut-
ing our bodies, and for which we are
indebted to plants and our mother
earth? There arc sixty simple cle-
ments forming the great globe, and
the question occurs, which of these
are essential to our own material
frames, and which plants supply !?
This is an interesting inquiry. As
far as we can ascertain they are the
following:
+ Iron, Manganese, Potassium, So
dium, Calcium, Magnesium, Chic
rine, Fluorine, Carbon, Silicon, Sui
phur, Phosphorus, Oxygen, Hydro
gen, and Nitrogen.
Fifteen in all--six metals and nine
non metallic. Besides these copper
is generally essential to land plants,
and iodine and bromine help 10 form
plants of the sea.
These elements do not all unite
indiscrinin ately TO form the various
organs of our system. Each element
performs its particular Office. Thus
phosphorus assists to form the brain,
the nerves, and the bones /; sulphur
enters into the albumen dark hair
has manganese in its composition,
and light hair has magnesia huor-
inc helps especially to form the hard
enamel of the teeth; and bones be-
ing white, are made chiefly of calci-
um or lime and magnesia. Oxygen,
that astonishing dement,, enters into
tine composition of every part.
he But the Office of plants is not sim
IT ply to supply each of these elements
N TO our constitution; they must sup
ply them definitely united together
,, in various compound bodies. Thus
the oil of animal systems is the oil
prepared directly by plants; the al
bumcn, the iibrin, and the casein OF
o animals, have all been elaborated by
r the wonderful mechanism of vegeta-
!, bles, ard yielded up as sacrifices to
form and sustain the higher orders
! of creation. Such bodies as oil, al
'e bumen, and Iibrin are called proAi-
i mate principles to distinguish them
N from simple inorganic elements.
e They are several hundred in number,
4 Some are more and some less nutri-
$ tious; some are Indifferent, and 9TH
t crs absolutely hurtful Or poisonous.
4 From view of such facts we are
{ enabled 10 form some idea of the
: chemistry of agriculture and vege.
. tation, as the great and ultimate
$ source of food for man. The sol
: must contain the fifteen simple elc.
r ments above enumerated, and min
, glcd together in due proportions
t They must DO slowly dissolved by
, water, or tho plant cannot imbibe
them and hence the mechanical OPP
: erations on the soil to promote such
Q solution. II any ofthem be wanting
Q they must be procured artiGcially in
: Tho most economical way, and APP
piled the most wisely. Next the dit.
! ferent vegetable products them
j selves must be examined to asccr.