Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-23
ADULTERATED FOOD

human family than war, famine and pesti-
lence. We eat to live, but at the same time
we are eating our way into the grave. Mil
lions of dollars are annually spent TO pro-
| mote health, while little attention is paid to
the adulteration of food, the prolific source
! OF disease and death. In the United States
the people swallow down the food offered
them with the confidence of the blind birds
| in the nest. In discussing this subject the
| New York Herald says:
1 We publish in another column the analysis
| which have been made by DR.. BARLEY. chemist 10
| the Brooklyn Health Board, of the milk OF three
denim the vie stun known as swili milk than
the most startling descriptions OF stumptal
dairies' have done DR.. BARLEY found the milk
very deficient by comparison with good cows
milk or mothers milk, in sugar and fat. On the
other hand he found in it an unusual quantity of
ents of milk is the that most troubles diges-
ton Worse STILL this caseine. when clottedSas
the caseine of all milk is almost the moment it
Il enters the stomach-formed clot that was unusu-
ally hard and not easily disintegrated. His re-
marks upon the cases Of two children whom he
believes died of the results OF swi milk diet viii
Sven had no deaths resnlted from the tse of
the vile secretion the doctors statement of the
physical condition to which brewers and disttll-
ers refuse red uces cows should be enough TO make
the sale of swirl milk crime, and yet swill milk
and ~ Least hall ~ n IL syaIio1Ted Inv cSIaTen
The report should be read by all parents who
then should combine TO put detectives on family
mtlkmen whose antecedents are not well known.
The fatality among the negroes of Mem
phis and sother cities can be traced to the
food they eat. Stree the first day Of Janu-
airy last there has been 666 deatbs-2l5
whites and 451 colored. These figures, taken
in connection with the fact that the white
population largely outnumbers the black,
shows that there are five deaths among the
blacks to one among the whites. This is
lrightful death-rste among the co.ored peo-
pie. 1t can be traced to unwholesome food,
as the negro is proverbially careless as 10
what he eats. This fatality among the blacks
is attributed generally to exposure in cold
weather; but the fact that the death-rate is
increased during the summer months, when
no sickness can possibly result from cold and
exposure, shows most conclusiyely that the
great mortality among the blacks is caused by
the food they eat. Last week there were
twenty-six deaths in Memphis-three whites
and twenty-three blacks. This is subject of
more importance to the colored people than
politics. The American people are too care
in Germany, where, as it ought 10 be in
America, the adulteration of either food or
drink is classed among the "heinous crimes"
conviction of which entails heavy fine
and long imprisonment. Quite recently
wine merchant of Neustadt YVES
tried for selling, as pure wine, a
liquor composed of glycerine, wine lees, al
hoI a1O IL. &
tartar and water. He was convicted on the
testimony of analysts and sentenced to pay
fine of 2000m. and all costs, and TO be
imprisoned at hard labor for three years and
a half, and 10 forfeit 10000 bottles OF his
alleged "pure wine," being the entire stock
unsold and in the cellar. The defendant
claimed that the liquor was "workmen's
wine" and was manufactured for them and
Tor distribution TO the poor" The plea was
accounted such an audacious one that it |
greatly aggravated the severity of the judges
sentence. Why cannot we have law passed
that will protect the people from vile trade
swindles? Would-be lawmakers are crop
ping up NUN erously just now. They could |
hardly demonstrate their qualifications in a
more useful way than by showing that they |
have grasped this important subject in all Its
important rami6cations, and that they are |
prepared to deal with it effectively. They |
need not be at any difficulty to find exam |
pies that are worthy Of imitation. The |
statute books of nearly every civilized
nation contain provisions against the |
class OF frauds 10 which we are abiding that |
have proven most useful and salutary in their |
operation. In England, France and Ger
many snch laws have worked a most marvel
ous revolution in the manner in which the |
people are supplied with articles of consump-
ion. In those countries the people now
know to moral certainty that they are OBJ
aiming precisely what they ask for. They |
know exactly what they are eating and
thinking. Food adulteratien is punished SO
severely, and its detection renders the adul-
orator so obnoxious TO public opinion, that
rsuds OF this description are almost stamped
'ut. None but the most charscterless and
desperate OF tradesmen will run the risk of
ngsging in them, and even they do not have
ong to run. The public mind has become
o suspicious. and the means of detecting
raud so well understood and easily |
detective ever on the alert TO catch rsscally
radesmen. There is too much reason TO fear
hat food adulteration has advanced to gil
antic proportions in this country. 1t is pos
lively notorious that many of the most nee
ssary articles of daily consumption are vile
dc hot nd h. /
nd are in too many instances injurious TO
ealth. What with being cheated by false
Teights and measures, defrauded by adulter-
lions, and robbed by tariff exactions, the
ost of living is becoming SO great in our
arge cities as to injuriously affect the civili-
alton of the age in which we live. Mendo
OF marry because they cannot afford the in
reased expense necessary for the mainte-
ance of families. Wages that would at one
me have suficed TO have raised and edu-
ated large family to usefulness and re-
are, in this era of frauds and
Ugh prices, grossly inadequate for that pur-
ose. Our congressman must hereafter be
lected to relieve the necessaries of life from
AVIATION. Our State Legislators must be
lodged. to pass practical measure that
ill sweep away the fsr-reaching and
igantic frauds by which nearly every ar
cle of food and drink is being sold to the
eople in an adulterated form. These are
omestic reforms, the value OF which. to the
reat mass of the people it is impossible TO
ver-estimate. They come home to every
,an's daily life. They concern the house,
life no less than he who is the family's
read-winner. In this direction there is
ne field for the exercise OF the skill of our
lawmakers. Which of our legislators will
distinguish themselves By entering upon it
nd occupying it to their own great credit
nd 10 the advantage of The people?
The Tariff Commission.
.0Ayf1 Rp ANrrr nrnef Ca-uo,& |