Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-14
WHY We Are Sick.


No device that can add to the comfort
and convenience Of a dwelling is omitted
in our modern architecture. and money is
not regarded when the luxury Of clothing
or beauty of personal adOrnment is in
question. Hence we all live in better
houses aud wear better clothes than did
our fOrefathers. Why should we not take
the same better care Of our health: Why
should dyspepsia, and the train Of diseases
that follow it, almost unknown in the
olden time, be so prevalent now! simply
because of the poisonous and indigestible
trash which in these days is forced upon
the public as genuine food, or used
to adulterate those articles that 20 to
make up the daily bill of fare Of every
household. Our fOrefathers were content
to make money by plain and honest meth
dds; but the hot competition of the present
day and the strife for rapid riches have
called forth all the ingenuity of modern
science to devise cunning receptions that
shall enable the avariciOus dealer to more
rapidly increase his profits, even though
he destroy the health of the public there
by. The consequence is adulterated, inl-
pure, poisonous and bogus food on every
hand.
The people buy these adulterated 'arti-
cles of food because they are cheap, en-
tirely ignorant of their poisonous quail
ties. A few years ago this evil had
reached such alarming proportions in
England that the public sentiment de-
manded legislative interference, and Par
lament enacted the most severe repres-
sive laws. DR.. Small, L. ;. A., after an
examination recently made under the
direction of the War Department, con-
cludes that the adulteratiOn of food is as
great in this Country to-day, and Of as
dangerous a character, as 1t was In Eng
land at the time referred to. No article
entering so generally into the food of
every family has been found more vii
lainOusly adulterated than baking pow
der For the purpose Of undertaking
an absolutely pure powder like the
"ROyaF'-which has become the stand
ard for purity and strength in
baking powders-hundreds Of dealers are
putting up baking powders with cheap
and adulterated cream Of tartar contain
ing lime, earth, ETC., adding strength by
the free lsse of alum. These powders are
sold cheap, but their use is expensive, for
they are one of the chief causes Of the dys-
pepsia from which the American people
are suffering. This species of adultera-
tiOn, at least. can be avoided by following
the advice Of Prof Mott, the chemist TO
the Government, who recommends con-
sumers ''when purchasing baking pow
ders to select one standard powder, as the
Royal Baking Powder rather than to
risk purchasing 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 sufficiently
vigorous manner TO put an end to the
whole nefariOus business. In the mean
time, if people will be as careful to buy
the best and purest food as they are TO
wear the best clothes and build the most
comfortable houses, it will not be neces-
sary to ask so frequently the question:
''Why are we sick:c Every Scientific
test has proven the Royal TO be pure
and wholesome.