Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-09-05
The Poiscn n Fruits ,


Tomatoes contain neither cancers nuI
cancer-producrn9 matter. Cancers are
composed of animal matter, not vegetable.
and therefore cannot be directly derived
from the vegetable kingdom Tomatoes
are not without some defects as an i-le
OF food. They are not like milk, a per
feet diet Of themselves, and besides, like
most Of other articles of food, they con-
tam some obnoxious qualities. But they
need not he thrown aside on that account
Nature has provided us with such suffi-
clent eXcretory organs that obnoxious
matter in ourfood, If in moderate amount,
Is readily cast ont, and the body is protec-
ted 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
advantage. IhGs. red cabbage, cherries
and peaches contain prussic acid, which is
4 deadly poison when taken in sufficient
quantitivs. The very small amount of
the poisoning acid these vegetables con
:ai:. s cast out Of the system without any
material injury 10 the person using them
\ positive good may actually be derived
from the use of food containing some
such foreign matter. by way of giving in
tory organs from their exercise in casting
such foreign matter from our bodies, pro-
vldeI the quantity is not so great as to
0yerburden 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 excretory
organs is necessary to protect MS against
the pyrllciuus effects which might other
WISE occur. Almost every kind OF grain
and fruit in use contains more or less of
things, which in 4 larger amount would
prove hurtful. Unless we closely study
Cur food, We are taking them in when We
little suspectit A Frenchman, not many
years ago discovered a substance lii wheat
bran, which under the high heat used in
baking, dissolved ont and spread over the
crumbs Of bread of which bran forms a
part, and discolored it, and hence the
brown stain peculiar 10 Graham bread.
Bnt from this discovery such bread has
not been rejected. but continues to he
accounted among the most wholesome
kinds Of food. Rye is seldom used with
out containing more or less ergot, hut rye
bread lis also reckoned among the most
healthtul- Tea contains taunic acid, ap-
pies contain mallic acid, lemons and
oranges citric acid, no one Of which is
used either IN nutrition or respiration,
but they only become objectionable
when used excessively.
Tomatoes, in common with most other
fruits, contain some poisonous matter.
They and the eggplant, Jerusalem cherry,
bitter sweet deadly nightshade and the
common potato plant, all belong to the
same gcnus--solanum-t fruit Of every
species of which is more or less poison
Ous but none Of them very much so. The
frmt Of the deadly night shade and Of the !
potato potato balls) are probably the
most poisonous; but even these are not
very Eurtiul. The smaller amount CON
tanned IN tomatoes allows Of their being
ciassed with the esculeni fruits, but there
Is nevertheless enough TO give them a
peculiar flavor not apt to be relished bv
una' ustOlned palates but which use soon
rend r. agreeable. Used very largely,
tomatoes would doubtloss develop specific
results pecuilar 10 the fruit Of the genus to
which they belong, especially with feeble
psrsr and thosr who, from their pecu-
liar constitutions, are susceptible to such
Intiusnr,s Bat when moderately used
10y persons III fair health there is no mere
reason Tor rejecting them than there
would he IN rejecting lettuce for the
opium 1t contains.
Pe-plant stands in similar relations.
Its prominent characteristic and flavor I
are tia" result Of "Xalic acid. which is a
powerful poison. For persons not hay /
ing sufficient vigor to dispose Of such Il
strong acid, and for those in whose svs- /
tens there is already an excess OF acid,
such highly acid food would be objectiona-
hl-. But its moderate use by people in
common health is n" more Objectionable /
than auy other acids in daily use and is .
REGARDED as healthful