Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-11-07
TOMATOES AS FOOD.
Prof. Arnold, Of Rochester, De-
cIares Them E1calthiul-They
Contain no Cancer-prO-
dUcilg Matter.

New York Tribune.l
Tomatoes contain neither cancers
nor cancer producing matter. Cancers
are composed of animal matter, not
vegetable, aud, therefore. can not be
directly derived from the vegetable
kingdom. Tomatoes ere not without
some defects as an article of food.
They are not, like milk, perfect diet
of themselves, and, besides, like most
other articles of food, they contain
some obnoxious qualities. But they
need not be thrown aside on that ac-
count Nature has provided us with
such efficient excretory organs that |
obnoxious matter in our food, if in |
moderate amount, is readily cast out,
and the body is protected against any
material injury. Were it not so, we
should be obliged to throw out Of our
dietary many kinds of food now eaten,
not only'with impunity, but with ad- |
vantage. Thus. red cabbage, cherries |
and peaches contain Prussic acid, |
which is a deadly poison when taken
in sufficient quantity. The very small
amount OF the poisoning acid these
vegetables contain is cast out Of the
system without any material injury to
the person using them A positive
good may actually be derived from the
use of food containing some such for
eign matter by way Of giving in
creased activity aud strength to the
excretory organs from their exercise
in casting such foreign matter from
our bodies, provided the quantity is
not so great as to overburdon them
Since we are all the time liable to take
in our food substances the tendency of
which is harmful, a good Development
of efficiency in our eZcretory organs is
necessary to protect us against the
pernicious effects which might other
wise occur Almost every kind Of
grain and fruit in use contains more
or less Of things which, if in larger
amount, would prove hurtful. Unless
we closely study our food, we are
taking them in when We little suspect
it. A Frenchman, not many years
ago, discovered a substance in wheat
bran which, under the high heat used
in baking dissolved out and spread
over the crumb of bread, of which
bran forms a part, and discOlored it,
+ and hence the brown stain peculiar to
Graham bread. But from this discov-
cry such bread has not been rejected
but continues TO be accounted among
the most wholesome kinds OF food
! Rye is seldom used without containing
more or less ergot, but rye bread is
also reckoned among the most health
. full Tea contains tannic acid, apples
contain malic acid, lemons and orange,
citric acid neither of which is. USED
either in nutrition or respiration, but
i they only become Objectionable when
used excessively.
Tomatoes, in common with most
other fruits, contain some poisonou,
{ matter They, and the egg g-plant, Je
rusalem cherry, bitter-sweet, deadly
, night shade and the common potato
> plant, all belong to the same genus
u solanum-the fruit of every species o
Il which is more or less poisonous, bu
;, none of them very much so. The frui
J.. Of the deadly night shade and of tn,
! potato (potato balls) is probably tn,
most poisonous. But even these ar,
4 not very hurtful, The smaller amoun
Il contained in tomatoes allows of thei
7 being classed with the eseulent fruits
but there is nevertheless enough t.
give them a peculiar favor not apt t
!. be relished by Unaccustomed palates
1t but which use soon renders agreeable
= Used very largely, tomatoes woul
y doubtless develop specific results peeu
y liar to the fruit or the genus to whicI
I" they belong, especially with feebl
i persons and those who from their pc
~ culiar constitutions, are susceptible t
such influences But when moderate
e ly used by persons in fair health ther
is no more reason for rejecting theI
IL than there would he in rejecting let
tuce for the opium it contains.
L. Pie-plant stands in similar relations
U Its prominent Characteristic an
> flavor are the result of oxalic aciC
n which is powerful poison For pei
"a sons not having sufficient yigor to di,
:, pose of such a strong acid, and fC
~ those in whose system there is alread
IL an excess of acid, such highly aci
, food would be Objectionable. But il
'u moderate use By people in commc
health is no more Objectionable tina
'e many other acid foods in daily us
and regarded as healthful.
lu l. u AnNn1n