The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-06
Why We are srek.

No device that can add TO the con-
fort and convenience of q dwelih < is
omitted in our modern architect IRE,
and money is not regarded when the
luxury of clothing or beauty OF per-
Sonal adornmentis ia question. lItnce
we all live in better houses gnd wear
better clothes than did our forefath-
ers. Why should We not take the
same better care of our health? Why
should dyspepsia, and the train OF
diseases that fellow 1t, a.nlost M
known in the olden time, 3e so preva-
Bent now Simply because Of the
poisonous and lndigestibie trash
which in these days is forced upon
the public as genuine food, or used TO
adulterate those articles that go to
make up the daily bill of fare ofevery
household. Our forefathers were con-
tent to make money by plain and
honest methods; but the hot competi-
tion of the present day and the strife
for rapid riches have called forth all
the ingenuity of mo6ern science to
devise cunning deceptions that shall
enable the ayaricious dealer to more
rapidly increase his profits, even
though he destroy the health of the
public thereby. The consequence IS
adulterated, impure, poisonous and
bogus food on every nand.
! The people buy these adulterated
articles OF food because they are
lcheap, entirely ignorant of their pois-
onous qualities. A few years ago
this evil had reached such alarming
proportions in England that the pub
lie sentiment demanded legislative in
reference, and parliament enacted
the most severe repreSSiye laws. ,Dr.
Small, L. s. A., after an EXAMINATION
recently made under the direction OF
the war department, concludes that
| the adulteration of food is as great
in this country to-day, and of as dan
gerous a character, rs it was in Eng
land at the time referred to. No ar
ticle entering so generally into the
food of every family has been found
more Villainously adulterated than
baking powder. For the purpose OF
underselling an absolutely pure pow
der like the "Royal'-which has be-
come the standard for purity and
strength in baking powders-hun-
dreds of dealers are putting up baking
powders with cheap and adulterated
cream of tartar containing lime, earth,
ETC., adding strength by the free use OF
alum. These powders are sold cheap,
but their use is extensive, for they are
one OF the chief causes of the dyspep-
sia from which the American people
are suffering. Thisspecies of adultera-
tion, at least, can be avoided by fol-
lowing the advice of Prof. Mott, the
chemist to the government, who rec
ommends customers when purchas-
ing baking powders to select one
standard powder, as the Royal Bak-
ing Powder rather than to risk pur-
| chasing adventurous compounds put
upon the market by persons who
have no higher motive than dollars
and cents"
We hope to see Congress take hold
of this important matter in sutii-
GENTLY vigorous manner to put IN
end to the whole nefarious business,
In the mean time, if people will be
as careful to buy the best and pu est
food as they are 10 wear the best
clothes and build the most comfort
able houses, it will not be necessary
to ask so frequently the question
"Why are we sick?" Every scientific
test has proven the "JSoyap to bepurt
and wholesome.