Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-06-09
From the Scientific American.
Effect of Alkalies on the Human
System.

1t is well understood that at the present day
alkalles are used, not only alone, but more fire.
quenty in combination with acids in the man.
ufacture Of various summer drinks, and in many
other domestic purposes, and sold to the public
under multiplicity Of names, rendering the
pointing out of any particular one entirely USE
less, sometimes as an efervescing draught, at
others to produce artificial Fermentation, for the
quick and certain raising of cakes, bread and all
kinds of pastry; now firmly believe that the
continued use of articles. are prepared, is high
ly injurious to the coats of stomach and bowels,
and think that opinion may in some measure
admit of demonstration, for where-ever we find
these articles of diet so prepared in frequent or
constant use, there we find the greatest amount
of weakness of the digestive organs, dyspepsia,
&C., with their long train of concomiant evils,
TINS producing, from their continued use, the
very ills they are said to prevent do not
mean to say that glass of soda-water. or any
other efervescent mixture, taken now and then,
may not be useful in correcting acldily Of the
stomach. but that its frequent repettions, as a
beverage, does the injury by stimulating first to
increase action the digestive powers, and then
like all other stimulants leaving them in greater
degree of languor and torpidrty than they were
at first. mean by stimulating that they first
,rri,oto tho inner p,,mhropa or coat or tho etor,
ach, and then produce in it state of morb I'd
sensibhty and not uufrequently ending in ul-
ceraton. also think that hese means iniure
the gastric fluid, both in quantity and quality, il
so, then no perfect digestion can be carried on
aed these remarks apply with equal fnrce, if n OF
more so, when such articles as saleratus, bi-carb
soda, tartarc acid, &C., are used in producing
artificial fermentation in making bread, pastry
&c. use the term artificial, considering il Il
differ essentially from what is generally held II
be true fermentation inasmuch as no heat /
evolved but rather to the contrary, neither cal
be produced in the vnous or saccharine tb
acetous stage under certain circumstances ma,
be such, as for instance, combining such mix
lures with -four and allowing it to stand or to b.
kept some time without being used. accoun
for this fiom tie well known affinity and absorb
ing power of all alkaline substance for mos
ture from atmospheric air, and this taking plac
would unite with the guton of the -four ant
thus produce the acetous stage, or in PLAIN terms
render it sour, and totally unfit for human food
The only polnt | think, in which the true AM
artificial agree is, that in both instances carbon
acid gas is set free, but suppose these mixture
are only added to the -four, few minutes be
fore placing in the oven, it does not make tn
matter much beter,l admit any thing so prepare
may look very nice and light, but firmly believ
that articles SO prepared and continually use,
would be attended with al! The evil consequen
ces, have stated. look upon free discussion
as one great means of ellciting the truth on an.
subject, and surely where the health of com
munity is at stake, it is a momentuous one, an,
should not be triAea with. What | have SAT-
has been, in great measure, derived from M
own experience of the effects of such mixture
upon others, and have heard similar remark
from eminent physicians, both in this countr,
and in Europe. J.H. MONTAGUE, M. D.
Brooklyn, 6l5s.