St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-09-10
Ice, its Use and Abuse.

Americans use too much ice-water-
perhaps too much ice. The New York
Hour makes some very sensible remarks
on this subject: Like all the other
almost fabulous crops Of our wonderful
country, the ice crop is now said to be
fabulous also, and in spite of the lodges
resorted to by ice companies and ice
vendors, who are apparently classed
with plumbers and gas-ftters in their
intimacy with iniquity, the price of ice
this summer will be very low. This is
a very unfortunate fact, for there is no
article Of consumption so directly nox-
ious in it's effects as ice. AS a pre-
servative of provisions it undoubtedly
has it's uses; but it has also it's dread
full abuses. The innocent consumer of
dish of salmon, for instance, is seldom
aware the fish from which the alleged
succulent slice is provided has been,
since he first left his native element in
Oregon, for three months or more,
frozen on blocks of ice. Long after the
present absurd and imperative game
laws have declared that quail and par
fridge are out of season, broiled speci-
mems of those delightful game-birds are
served at hotels and restaurants, having
been preserved on ice until the last
vestige of flavor or gamey taste has left
them, and bird OF sawdust displayed
the hungry individual. 1t is only in
this country that ice enters so largely
into the apparent comfort of its inhabi-
tants, and a very dangerous comfort it
is. Dyspepsia and a number of other
evils follow directly in the train of the
consumption Of ice. To the great pitch
ers of iced water SO temptingly dis
played on hot days may be traced a
number of maladies, for it is evident
that no person can without danger s@-
denly and violently lower the tempera-
ture Of his stomach by filling it full of
water at 80 degrees Fahrenheit. That
valuable organ will certainly resent the
insult, especially it followed up by re-
peated injuries of the same kind. In
the tropics, where the use of ice has
more temptations surrounding it than
in any other part of the world, the in
habitants most carefully avoid it. You
cannot get Cuban to indulge in iced
water. People who have been previously
addicted to tie foolish habit of using
ice will, after visiting the West Indies,
forever eschew the dangerous practice.
A party of men who recently visited |
San Domingo on business (who would !
60 there for any other reason y on heir
first arrival mourned greatly at the
absence of ice. sAh!' said they, when
the English steamer runs in here we
will go aboard and have treat in the
shape of good iced brandy and Soda
The steamer arrived in due course. The
ardent foreigners jumped into the boat
IT the captain of the port, a negro gor-
yeously arrayed in uniform covered
With gold lace, and, barely saluting
he captain, rushed to the saloon for
he coveted refreshments. 1t was duly
and the whole party were
endered i'll in consequence. None Of
hem have ever touched ice since that
ime. In the West Indies it is only the
olored race which patronizes ice; to
he white people it is not only no luxury,
,ut dangerous enemy. Ice has its
lses; in the hospitals it is invaluable;
or the preservation Of provisions, es-
'ecially fish, it is useful, although de-
rimental to favor if allowed to touch
he meats to be preserved; but as an
rticle of human consumption it should
70 avoided. There is yet an essay to
Q written upon the maladies and woes
reduced by the careless consumption
f ice. 1t is only with us that this takes
lace. Abroad ice is simply luxury
My resorted to at times. Even in Cal
.ornia the residents are wary Of it, In
hort, ice is very good friend in mod
ration, but bitter enemy when the
ltimacy is too absorbing"