Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-05-08
NO. 10 9.
APPLES vs.. POTATOES.

t. For the first time in many wears apples
and potatoes are sold at the same price
per bushel. and the question which is the
most economical to use for food becomes
a pertinent one. The-matter of diet in its
relation to the health and strength of the
individual is more and more occupying
the attention of Psychologists, and it is
getting to be pretty generally understood
that certain amount of nitrogenous food
to supply the waste of the muscles, due
proportion of carbonaceous elements to
furnish the heating power, and phosphates
to supply the bones and for nervous pow
er, are indispensable to life and health.
BY all the facts that can be gathered from
the bills of fare of soldiers, sailors, pris-
oners, and other working men whose diet
has been accurately observed, it has been
found that ''the daily requirements of Ia
boring men are five ounces Ofsolid nitrates
for the muscles, twenty-five ounces of
carbonates for animal heat, two or three
per cent. of phosphates for bones and ner-
vOus power, with waste and water to give
it bulk, and acids to eliminate effete mat
ter from the blood through the liverr
Careful analyses have been made by
the chemists of the articles of food in COM
mon use, and from their tables one could
see what food containing the proper ele-
ments is the most economical. We pro-
pose, however, to refer only to the COM
parative merits of potatoes and apples as
shown by the analyses. In DIR. A. j. Bel
low 5 work .How not to be sick" is q ta-
BILE showing the amount of different kinds
of food requisite to afford the five ounces
of nitrates necessary for mans daily sus-
tenance. FROM this it appears that if one
lived on potatoes alone he would have to
consume fifteen pounds of that esculent,
while five to ten pounds OF apples would
afford the same amount of nitrates; and
with the potatoes he would consume 80
ounces of carbonates, more than twice
what the system demands, while the ap-
pies contain but five to ten ounces.
The analysis of potatoes shows the per-
ccntage to be, of nitrates, IA; of carbon
ates, 22.5; of phosphates, 90; water,
1872. In apples the nitrates are so; car
Donates 100: phosphates 10; water $40.
From this analysis it appears that the nit
rates in apples are largely in excess Of
those in potatoes, and the phosphates are
also in somewhat greater quantity. As
the phosphates in apples are mostly solu-
bic they are believed to contain larger
amount of PHOSPHORUS or brain food than
any other fruit or vegetable, and on this
account they are very important to seden-
tary men whose work is with their brains
rather than muscles. They also-to quote
from the work before referred to-''con-
tain the acids which are needed every day
especially in sendentary men, the action
of whose liver is sluggish, to eliminate
eiiiete matters, which. if retained in the
system, produce inaction of the brain, and
indeed Of the whole system. causing jaun-
dice, slcepness, scurvey and troublesome
diseases of the skim
One of the most celebrated physicians
of Philadelphia, it is said, eats two raw
apples every evening before he retires to
rest, and thinks they not only supply food
to his brain but keep the whole system in
healthy condition.
There are almost innumerable ways of
preparing apples for the table. which ey-
cry housewife knows, and when they are
so pleantiful and cheap as this year, they
should be regarded not as luxury but 9
necessity in every household. They
should be as plentiful and accessible rs
water to the children, who are not likely
to eat more than is good for them under
auy circumstances. S.-MOntt0r.