Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-10
RESULTS OF TIVISECTIOy.
Interesting Experim entS.


SOURCE OF DYSPEPSIA SCIENTIFICALLY DEMON
STATED.
IFrom the New York TribuAe.I
series OF highly interesting experiments
with dogs has been lately made by Prof Mott,
and In the Scientific american of Feb a de-
tailed account is given. The disclosures are so
unpleasant and startling coming home, as they
do, to every one, that we believe they should be
given the greatest publicity. The effort DR..
Mott is making to purify our articles of kitchen
use should receive the support OF every think
ing man and woman. There has been too much
indifference on this suOject-an indifference
that has resulted in Americans earning the title
OF "a race Of dyspeptics." Poison, year after
year. Is introduced Into the stomach with
criminal disregard to consequences that Is ap-
palling. If every purveyor of domestic supplies
VIII carefully consider the result Of DR.. Motifs
experiments, as detailed In the Scientific Ameri-
cdn one OF the greatest, II not the greatest, of
these evils will be corrected.
DR.. Mott says: 1.-THE Introduction of alum In
flour, for various purposes, has been trick OF
the baker for the past 100 years. Fortunately
for society," its introduction is limited now to a
and Germany it is an ofIense punishable by fine
and Imprisonment to use alum in any cOnnec-
ton with articles OF food. 1t should be so in
America
The Royal Baking Powder Company. of this
city, long established corporation celebrated
for the absolute purity OF their goods, some
time ago commenced vigorous warfare against
many OF their competitors who were indn!gfng
In hurtful adulterat1on. The contest excited
great interest in scientific circles In which
Prof Angel. DR.. Mott, and other leading lights
of DR.. Mott are result OF this discussion, and
go to prove cOnclusively that the most danger
Gus adulteratiOn that community has to guard
against Is alum In baking powder: In his paper
the doctor says: ut was with difficulty found
suitable place to conduct the experiments so
that the animals would not disturb the neighbour
hood; but, through the courtesy OF the Commits
sionerS of the dock department, secured
shed on their premises, foot of 10th street and
East river. This shed l had completely re-
modelled into suitable house. having the di-
mansions OF about 16x14x12 feet. Sixteen stalls
were made inside, having the dimensions OF 81
X2X2H feet The bottom OF each compartment
was covered with straw, making pleasant bed
for the dogs. then secured l6 dogs from the
pound, which were all carefully examined to
see If they were in perfect state OF health.
None but the strong, healthy dogs were Sc
lected. The breed age, food, color and weight
of every dog was carefully noted. Each dog
was then confined to stall and securely
chained, and they all received a number from
l to 16 commenced my experiments on the
9th OF september, and finished December 3. MY
assistant was with the dogs from morning until
night, and never left the animals without first
securely boiling and locking the dog house. No
stranger was allowed to enter the house unac-
companied either by himself or my assistant,
and the dogs never received mOuthful of food
or anything else from any one except from my
assistant or myself will now detail the re-
suit OF my experiments:
Dog No. Breed OF dog, coach. Age, year.
Health, perfect Food, bread and crackers.
Color. spotted black and white. Weight, 50
pounds,
To this dog, on the morning of the 9th OF
september, was given eight biscuits at $40
O'Clock. The biscuit were made by myself as
follows: one quart sifted flour, % teaspoonfuls
alum baking powder. cups water. tablespoon
butter, 2@ biscuits made, weighing p ounces;
time of baking, 90 minutes
''At 1870, just three hours and twenty min
utes, the dog was taken very sick, vomiting pro-
fusely; his vim and brightness of eye had de-
limbs
Experiments were then made upon three dogs
with biscuits containing only 10 teaspoons OF
alum baking powder. The result indicated that
some animals are more liable TO yield to the
effects Of poisonous substances than others are.
When, on the other hand, three other dogs were
fed with biscuits made Of pure cream of tartar
baking powder, no i'll effects were experienced.
They ate and ate with an evident reli sh, day
after day, and even whined for more.
1t was next necessary to discover what effect
alum has on the solvent power OF the gastric
Juice In order to obtain some pure gastric
I Juice curious device was was. resorted to. DR.;
Department OF the University OF New York, who
inserted small metallic tube directly through
the skin and into the stomach OF each one OF
them, when the dogs were In perfectly healthy
condition. Prof. Arnold sent to Dr. Mott some
gastric juice, which was produced by tickling
the lining OF the stomach OF the dogs with
juice TO flow out Of the tube into receptacle
placed underneath the dog to receive it.
DR.. Mott. aided by Prof: Schneider, then began
some experiments with the four samples OF gas
trio juice, which he had received from Prof. Ar
mold, to discover the effect of the gastric juice
In which alum had been dissolved upon fibrine
"a white, very easily dIgested substance having
perfectly digeSted, and the experiments were
very important, as showing that alum can check
the digestion OF so easily digeSted a substance
as f1bine. They indicate, therefore how dam
ga q n IN orr
stomachs, If we do not wish to excite indiges-
ton and dyspepsia. Further experiments
showed that the digestive power OF the gastric
juice is entirely destroyed by alum so far as It's
power OF diSsOlvlng the more indigestible SUBJ
stances, like the boiled white Of an egg, is con-
cerDed.
Administering be found in the various organs of
the body If a dog was fed with hydrate of alum
ina. he found a considerable quantity of the
stuff in the blood. liver kidneys and hearts
The Doctor goes on to describe the different
. symptoms exhibited by these dogs as they
passed through almost every phase of animal
agony until they were left in complete state
of physical prOStratiOn. To those especially in
tereSted in the details OF this subject the article
in the Scientific american supplement will give
most complete information, and we will spare
the sympathetic reader the account of the Suf-
fer1DgS OF these dumb bruteS.
DR.. Motifs conclusions. after making these eX-
perimentS, are OF vital interest TO every one
who either makes or eats bread, and therefore
concern all.
"These experiments" said he recently, While
speaking before the American Chemical SOcie-
ty. CLEARLY demonstrate that the salts left in
the biscuit when cream OF tartar Dak ing
powder is used are perfectly harmless but
when an alum baking powder is used are very
dangerous, for 1t every case where dogs were
fed on biscuits made with such powders the dogs
were made very SICK causing them to voInit
protusely, lose all energy, and show weakness
in their limbs"
1t is clear and triumphant cOrroboration of
She assertions Of the Royal Baking Powder
Company. and entities them to the gratitude
oring to protect. AS they claim, and Dr.. Mott
has shown. bread made OF alum is totally unit
for human or animal food. IT'S true. In the
bread OF domestic consumption there may not
be as large proportion OF baking powders as
was In the bread used by DR.. Mott, and that
accounts for the fact that the symptoms In the
reader are not so well defined as they were in
the experiments In question. How many there
are OF our Immediate friends suffering from this
evil. scientific investigation will alone reveal;
but many lingering and suffering invalid, with
40 defined IDEA OF his trouble, can easily trace t
TO its source by stopping the use OF alum pow
derS, substituting some brand like the Royal
Baking Powder, whose manufacturers have a
who rigidly analyses every ingredient before its
incorporation into their powder. The old cry of
honesty being the best policy" may be worn
threadbare, but its truth Will hold forever, and
While authorizations and short weights abound
Ii Is pleasure to see at least one in the trade
StrenuOuSly endeavoT1ng to give full weights
and pure goods.
WASHINGTON FISH MARKEr-Sold BY r. A. Col