Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-02-29
NF1yr F00D.

There are about twenty European
preparations styled infant foods, begin
ming with that Of Nestle, and at least
twice as many American, all Of which
profess to furnish a complete nutrition
for the infant during the frstfew months
of its existence, while yet the conversion
Of starch into dextrine and sugar is be-
yond the capacity Of the unframed d.
gestive function. The examination OF
these with microscope, assisted by such
simple tests as iodine, which turns
starch cells blue, and gluten Tor album
inous) granules yellow, has engaged the
careful attention of DR.. Ephraim Cutter,
of Cambridge, and mis- results will star
tie most mothers who have relied upon
the extravagant pretenses set forth In
the circulars of manufacturers. Eliza
McDonough, who preceded DIR. Gutter
in this field, has been in measure dis
credited; but it appears that her asser-
tion-that the starch, so far from being
transformed into dextrine, was not suffi-
GENTLY altered to render the recognition
of its source difficult, whether from
wheat, rye, corn or barley-was strictly
true, and that these pretentious foods
are, without exception, nearly valueless
for dietetic purposes. All Of them con-
sist of baked -four mainly, either alone
or mixed with sugar, milk or salts. In
some cases the baking has been very In
adequately performed, and the doctor
found one that consisted merely OF wheat
and oats whose starch cells were proxi-
mately in their natural condition. The
general result of DR.. Cutters examina
ton may be stated in brief terms as fol
lows: There was scarcely a single one
of the so-called infant foods that con-
tanned quantity of.gluten as large al
that contained in ordinary wheat flour
That is to say, well-compounded whea
cruel is superior to any of them, partic
ularly when boiled with little milk
and mothers are in error who place tn
slightest dependence upon them. A
respects one very expensive article, pro
Q ssing to possess 270 parts in ever,
1000 of phosphate salts in connection
with gluten, DR.. Cutter was unable t
find any gluten at all. The thing wa
! nearly pure starch sold at an exorbitan
price as nerve and brain food, and
; great remedy for ricketts,. Soall throug
: the list. Sometimes trace of glute
:. was present more frequently none Q
S all. In one case there were ninety part
OF starch to ten Of gluten; hut this VIC
G exceptional, and the majority were les
}, valuable, ounce for ounce, than ordinar
t wheat -four. Considering the semi-ph
: anthropic pretensions which have bee
= put forth by the manufacturers Of thei
foods, some of them sustained by I'll
y certificates of eminent physicians, IL
report Of DR.. Gutter is one Of the drea
: lest comments upon human nature tn
d has recently fallen under the notice
e the journalist. But if the revelationsl
/" has made OF fraud and pretense on Il
% part Of manufacturers in this field sha
serve to protect mothers from furth
betrayal, and to rescue infant life fro
quack articles Of nutriment, his wor
though giving tremendous shock
:, our sensibilities and to our faith in me
J ical certificates, will not have been do
in vain. 5y.tssU FORK Times.
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