The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-02-10
The Effects of Saleratus.
itor of the ". Y. Tribune:


it an efficient agent in the production Of that
most alarming infantie mortality which
prevails. Your readers know, perhaps, that
we lose about 100000 inhabitants of the U.
States every year, under ten years of age !;
and some OF them know, if they have read
all that has been written on the subject
within few years, that not few of these
children might have survived had it not been
for the effects of saleratus.
Some individuals have doubted the truth
of my suggestions. They have seriously
questioned whether saleratus is really poi
sonous. Such individuals may be interested
IN the following statement of facts:
had been lecturing in North Adams,
Mass, on diet and regimen. At the close
Of the lecture the Rev. Robert Crawford
came to me and inquired whether was not
fond of collecting facts; and when replied
in the affirmative, he gave me particular
account of an incident in Williamstown,
which is only four miles from that place
In the year 1885 an INDECENT female, who
was desirous of trying to earn an honest
livelihood for herself and her family by keep
ing boarders, rented house in Williams
town, and took about fifteen boarderS. They
were chiefly, if not wholly, young men who
were attending the college at that place.
The housekeeper was ignorant of the fash
ionable mode of cookery, though she knew
that rich food was generally preferred. She
had heard of saleratus, and that by many
cooks it was freely used. Accordingly, she
procured quantity and freely used it. The
warm biscuits were so full of it as not only
to give them yellow or burnt appearance,
but also to render them bitter or nauseous to
the taste. Many other articles were filled
with it in like manner. In endeavoring to
make light puddings, however, she used so
much of the article. it was said, as to rem
der them almost as heavy as lead. The STU
dents called these puddings by the name of
specific gravity" so that whenever they
wished for slice. they would ask to be
helped to some of the "specific gravity"
After the lapse of a few months a disease
broke out among these students, so severe
that many believed it to be contagious OF
the whole number, thirteen We're confined
for long time, and the fourteenth was
slightly affected for few days. The house
became known by the name Of the pest
house. Two of the patients died; another
barely escaped death; and eleven finally re-
covered.
The individual who escaped the disease
wholly was Prof. Tatlock, now of the Will
JAMESTOWN college. The one who was only
slightly affected was the Rev. Mr.. Crawford,
my informant. The latter had no doubt
never had any-that the disease was caused
solely by the saeratus. Isaw Prof. Tatlock
subsequently, who confirmed the statement
of Mr. Crawford. 1t appears that he, like
Mr.. Crawford, ate very little of the food
which was so filled with saleratus, and the
biscuit they seldom ever tasted.
also saw and conversed freely with DR..
Sabin, one of the two principal physicians
who attended at the "pest-house" during the
sickness aforesaid, and who is still practi-
cling physician in Williamstown. He told
me that, to the present day, neither he nor
his associate, DIR. Smith, had ever entertain
ed momentary doubt that the whole trouble
was caused by saleratus.
The nature of the disease was somewhat
peculiar; but in every particular gave indi-
cation that the citadel of life had been at
tackled by no mean or powerless enemy. The
bowels lost their tone, and there was great
muscular prostration. Blisters applied to
any part of the system, were sure to be fol-
loved by almost immediate modification of
the part, In short, the disease was one of
the most severe ever known in that region.
But, if the more erceSsiUe use of this irri-
tating substance is liable to produce such
terrible effects, can the less erccsSiOc use of
it. which almost everywhere prevails, be en-
tirely innocuous?
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