Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-08-16

--S0LI. ne present n0 snp0i'AAsS - -
essay: .r-u
- When we adopted the principles OF by
geio-T herapy-justa quarter OF century
ago-the present moDth-we discontinued al
once the use of all seasonings winch dld
not possess alimentary Properties-salt,
mustard, pepper, vinegar, etc. For a year
we aid not taste Of them, and then re began
to realize what food was, az God designed
and Nature proddced it, We found it to
.possess gustatory properties which we had
never before been conscious of. We could
make luscious meal on bread, apples, po-
'-tatoes, cabbage, beets, parsnips, spinach,
or almost anything else that was properly
,eatable with no particle of-condiment, with
aInore pleasure than we formerly could on
all the complicated dishes of first class
hotel, with the addition Of all the season
ings. ofa first class restaurant. Afterward,
When we occasionally tasted OF them by
way Of experiment, or par, ook OF them
from the necessity Of the case wnen absent
from home, The effect was invariably more
or less disturbance of the digestive organs,
with thirst, feverishness and other symp-
toms OF poisoning. We nave studied and
observed the effects of seasonings upon
people generally, but more especially upon
sinvalfds, for twenty five years, nearly all Of
which time we have had one or two houses
full OF patients, some of whom used little
salt, while others used none, and our con-
clusion has been strengthening every year
that salt is an exceedingly pernicious ar
sticle. 81. & .-.aa sts
We believe their ,distetic employment is
the chief primary cause of gluttony, intern
sperance, and debauchery.l We are well
aware how radical and ultra land all truth
is both radical and ultra) these opinions
will be regarded by those who cannot relish
foodSwithout salt, and by a medical profess
sions whose only rules for interpreting the
volume of Nature are their own morbid ap-
petenees aud Tie kitchen Of fashionable
restaurant. Very few persons of the pres
ent day can enjoy food of any kind without
the addition of salt, mustard, vinegar or
pepper; and aority of those who are
regarded as g good livers'' land who are
sure to have torpid livers and irritable kid
neys) seldom take a dinner without using
allsof them. Butter is almost as commonly
used as salt Thousands Of American chill
dren are taught to eat almost as much but
ter as bread, and the result is seen in bile
humors, scrofula and erysipelas. The
quantity of salt, butter and sugar consumed
dietetically by the civilized world is i'm
mense; and although the great majority of
people regard. them as Indispensable espe-
cially sait--they would be vastly better off
if there were no such things in existence.
They are not only useless, but pernicious
indeed, they are fruitful source of disease
and premature decay. The effect of all
seasoning this remark applies with
special emphasis to SALTS to render the
mucous surfaces dry and infammatory, the
blood putreseent, the secretions deficient
and depraved, and the fbres rigid and in
elastic. In this condition there is more
friction, more wear and tear Of the organic
machinery. If they do not induce fatal
disease. they cause the vital structures to
wear out sooner. Indeed, no person can
by any possible effort perform as much
bodily or mental labor while using season
ings as he can (Other circumstances being
equal, without them.
The direct cost of these articles is as in
significant item in comparison with the loss
of health and strength and the abbrevi1-
tion of human life which they occasion,
and the many other unpbysiological and
pernicious habits to which they lead. The
desire for intoxicating drinks and for all
fictitious beverages, mineral waters, root
beer, tea, coffee, ETC., is chiefly attributable
to morbid thirst induced by salt and other
seasonings. This subject has an especial
importance with Vegetarians, who are striv-
ing to induce the people to return to "the
natural food of man," for salt is apt to be
the article that they hold en- to with more
pertinacity than to anything else which is
not in some sense food. A few words,
therefore, ON the scientific aspect Of the
question:
SILT is mineral poison. This fact alone
ought to settle the whole question Of its
odietetic use or abuse. But, unfortunately,
led on by the false teachings of the medical
professions, the world hiss coma to regard
poisols as useful, nay as indispensable, not
only as Medicines, but as victuals and drink.
Witness alcohol, cod liver oil, preparations
of iron, etc. Salt is in no sense food more
than is alcohol, arsenic or corrosive subli-
mate. 1t is wholly indigestible. 1t can
supply no element to the tissues. 1t cannot
be sssimilated 1t is passed through the
system unchanged, as are other indigestible
and poisonous substances. We do net here
forget the constant iterations of medical
authors and physiological scribblers that
salt is useful, necessary and indispensable
that it supplies an element (chlorine) for
the formation of the hydrochloric acidTof
the gastric juice; that it supplies the soda
saliva, bile, etc. ; but as these statements
are nothing but statements--mere asser-
tons without particle of proof--and sus-
ceptible, moreover, of absolute disproof, we
will not here argue the points involved. We
will do better. We will give the reader a
rule which will enable him to determine for
himself, to positive demonstration, wheth-
er salt belongs tc the category of food or of
poison. He has only to take meal of
bread at one time, meal or dose of salt at
another, aud meal or dose of arsenic at
another. He will find that the effects of
the the salt are in all respects analogous to
those of the arsenic, and in no respect
analogous to those of the bread. Arsenic,
in appreciable doses, occasions thirst, heat,
pain, redness and swelings. These are
symptoms of sease--inhammation. And
this Inflammation, in degree, intensity and
danger. corresponds always and precisely
with the quantity of the drug taken, be it
arsenic or salt. Arsenic, in very small
doses, is regaried as beneficial tonic-a
supporting and strengthening agent which,
by the way, has never been claimed for
salt Bread will not occasion these symp-
toms Of Inflammation, taken in any guam
tity.
II has been known 70. centuries that sailed
ailments were conducive % acrid humors. a
putreseent state of the blood and scurvy
In putrid fevers, aud in all diseases in
which there is well marked putrescent ten
sdency in the fluids, the use of sail has long
been prohibited by intelligent physicians.
Nearly all medical writer's of responsibility
condemn sailed meats for dyspeptics, and,
generally, for all chronic invahds. How,