The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1874-05-14
The Value OF a Kerael OF Corn.

In considering lac curious dhd iHct
es.ine chemical nature Of corn, we shall
use the word rs applied to wheat, as well
:.s to maize. The two grains are chem
ical!v constituted very much alike, and
what may be said of one applies with
almost equal truth to the other. Both
ere made up Of starch, dcxtrin, gum, su-
ger, gluten, albImcn, and phosphates OF
lime, msgncsia, and potassa, with ciiica
and iron. Wheat contains about double
the amount of lime and iron, and con
siderable more phosphoric acid, but less
,nsg,csia and soda. The maize seeds
arc rich in peculiar oil, which is nour-
ishing and highly conducive to the Tor
IN ,.ion of aiiposc or fatty matter; hence
the high utiliiy of corn in fattening ami
mails. What remarkable combination
Of chemical substances is stored up in a
kernel of corny 1t may almost be said
to be an apothecarie's shop IN NINA
ture and the order and arrangement OF
thu mineral elements and vegetable com
pounds, needed to render the COMPARE
aon more apt, are not wanting. For
,Sme reason, Nature places the most
valuable substances ia kernel nea, est
The air and sunlight, while tho little cells
Of the interior are full of the material
assd to keep erect and tidy our collars
aud neck bands-starch. With mois-
tened cloth, we can rub of from the kerr
mel about three and halt per cent OF
woody or s.rawy material, OF not much
butritive value and then We come to
coating which holds nearly all the iron,
potash, soda, lime phosphoric acid and
the rich heterogeneous ingredients. This
wrapper is the storchousc upon whose
shelves are deposited the mineral and
vegetable wealth of the berry. Whence
come these chemical agen,sy BY what
auperlative cunning are they grouped
within the embrace of this covering !
rhsy come of course from the soil and
by the mysterious and silent power OF
vital force they have been raised, atom
by atom, from their low estate, and fitted
70 perform the high Offices Of nutrition
in the animal organisms. And should
We not appropriate them to our use as
the most carefully adjusted Of all mate
rails Designed for human ailmcnt! Ger
ta,nly We should: bat do We! Unfor-
tunatc!y we cannot render an afnrma-
rive answer. The sharp teeth OF our
hurr mile drive ruthlc>sly through the
rich wrappers OF the kernel, and then
torn fragments pass TO the bolt, and from
that TO the barn or stable the animals
obtain the nutritious gluten, and the
starch, in the form of fine flour, Is set
aside for family use. But 1t is not de-
signed to enlarge upon thus point. Let
a- look ut the chemical Offices the sub
stances found in the kernei of corn sub
serve in the animal economy.
Starch is the wood or coal which, un-
der the influence of oxygen, isto be con.
snined for burned to maintain animal
warmth. 1t passes in as pure fuel. ii IS
oxydiz-d, and the ashes rejected through
,se respiratory organs. The warmth
impaired by this combustion is ncecssa-
nv to the proper fuifilment OF tac tunc-
'i"ns Of tbs body. OF these functions,
those OF digestion and assimilation are
the most important. The digestive APP
para,us receives the g.uton AMI the
starch of the grain The latter is pushed
forward to be burned, the former enters
the circulation; and out Of its contained
IRON, polasb. soda ma4nasia, hme, nit
roycn, etc., are manufactured all the I'm
portant tissues and organs Of the body,
All Of the iron is retained in the blood
together with much of the soda and
lpheapric acid; tins limo goes TO ths
homes. aud the magnesia very abruptly
leaves the holy. as it seems 10 be very
plainly tod that it is no, wanted. Such
in brief, are tho uses which the organic
aud inorganic constituents OF kerne
81 ..orn subservc in tho chemistry OF ami
nssi iite.
lhs changes which they arc made te
undergo IN the laboratory are Amos
-,,nsiiy undressing and Important. re
r.,i., or starci., is body Of great inter
Get. and -. not found alone IN corn
Their, - srareiv plant Vr s'-st VI .
plan, VIVA, !. docs NO } .c.i mv.c .. IS