Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-07-27
THE CHEWERS OF GUM.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRO-
CESS OF MANUFACTURE.

Ktnks-Cse OF Gum as an Aid to Di-
gestiOn-YOung Girls just Out of School
Practice of Employees.
1--WE are the largest manufacturers of the
article In this country, but l should judge
that there are not less than twenty other
large firms in the business besides large
number of smaller manufacturers scattered
throughout the country, who supply the
local trade in their respe tive localities
1he smaller manufacturers make the cheaper
KIND OF chewing gum from paraffine and
sugar or glucose The mixture is harmless
and but very little if any deleterious stuff is
used, as paratiine is very cheap and there
fore there is but very little temptation to
introduce adulteration into its manufacture
We first started in the business in 1858 but
chewing gum had been manufactured for
many years before that time
Our business was light the first year. but
grew rapidly and we added new brands of
gum, the chief ingredient being the gum OBJ
tanned from fruit tree in Mexico, the fruit
of which is known as sapodilla. The fruit
is about the size and shape of an apple, with
q brown shell; it has delicious flavor and
is largely used by the natives as an article
of diet The gum is gathered by the In
dams and brought to market on pack mules,
each mule carrying about twelve arrobas or
nearly 800 pounds The gum, which is
known as chicle, was introduced into this
country by us in 1868, it being up to that
time totally unknown outside of Mexico, the
compilers of encyclopedias not even making
mention of it. Since its introduction it has
grown in favor and is now used for chewing
purposes Throughout the civilized world,
Icing staple article of export and bring
ing to Mexico large annual revenue As
the gum became known business increased
and has been continually increasing ever
since
GUM-CHEWING AT THE SHAKING RINK.
"When the roller skating craze broke out
few years ago the demand for chewing
gum increased wonderfully. Nearly every
one who attended the Kinks became addicted
to the habit of chewing gum, which can be
explained upon natural reasons. Every
one who has attended a roller skating rink
knows that there is more or less dust raised
during the skating hours, which is inhaled
by the skaters, and results in a dry, parched
feeling in the throat and mouth 1t was
only natural then that chewing gum was re-
sorted to, in order to create q flow Of saliva,
which cleared the mouth and throat from
the disagreeable dryness OF late years,
however, many physicians have recon-
mended Its use as help to
digestion, as it is a we'll
known fact that nearly all cases Of indiges-
ton can be traced to lack of the flow of
saliva, which is absolutely necessary to
properly digest food, especially that kind of
food containing starch, such as flour, pota-
toes and farinaceous substances Chewing
gum excites flow of the necessary saliva
and many cases have been reported where
people have been entirely cured of indiges-
ton by its use
Il presume the public would be interested
by description of the manufacture of the
chewing gum The gum is shipped 10 US in
boxes or barrels from Mexico The first
thing We do is to refine the gum in order to
remove any foreign substance After the
refining process the gum, which then is about
the consistency of putty, is mixed with
sugar and put away on dryers, after being
run through large rollers, which fiattens it
out to the necessary thickness. 1t remains
on the dryers for two days and is then run
through a cutting machine, which cuts the
gum into the size required 1t is then put
into boxes and properly marked, and is
ready for shipment The gum sticks are
usually divided Into five equal parts, so that
a chew can be obtained for l cent, or
whole stick for ) cents.
YOUNG GIRLS JUST OUT OF SCHOOL.
The reporter took up favorable position
one afternoon on the corner of Joralemon
street just as the young girls were released
from their studies and counted those who
to lie chewing gum Out of 800
young girls who passed eighty, or over one
half, were chewing something. presumably
gum The chewers were Of all kinds some
chewed as If they thoroughly enjoyed it,
making their Jaws work in a manner SO en-
ergetic as to give the observer disagree
able thought of how those jaws could and
would probably work when the young miss
had attained to the dignity of mother in
law. Others chewed mechanically, as if it
was matter Of duty which must be per-
formed. Others alternated chewing with
but none of the chewers was
seen to expectorate
Meeting young lady friend who is at
tending Packer institute, the reporter in
quired how generally the practice was in
dulged in by the school girls of her acquaint-
ance why nearly every one of us chew
gum" she said, showing the reporter num-
Der of pieces OF gum in her hand bag "Of
course it's against the rules, but that don't
make any difference When we see any of
the teachers watching US we slip the gum
out of our mouths and stick it under our
seats or desks Some of the girls are real
mean. for they steal the gum of the other
girls when they are not looking, and Others
sire continually borrowing gum, Just like
the men borrow tobacco from each other"
One OF the floor walkers in one of tue large
Try goods houses ON Fulton street said that
gum chewing was largely INDUCED in by
The girls employed, but as they do not as a
rule expectorate the practice was not OBJ
ected to by the firm The girls employed
IN the tobacco factories are all gum
.hewers, as it helps them to free the mouth
.rom the tobacco dust which fills the rooms
Eagle.
Curing the Habit OF Mouth Breathing
When we think Of treatment it is first i'm
,ortant that we understand mouth-breath- /
ng as "a habit An inherited form of teeth /
,r lips may cause a tendency toward its ac
luirement, yet that it is a habit is evidenced (
0y many cases in which it has been over /
,ome merely by persistent effort. With in /
,ants its earliest evidences should be checked /
Is in the example of the Indian mother.
The formation of the habit is thus avoided. (
md the child saved from long train of IN
furious effects in the future here is no
hanger of smothering, as the child viii wake /
f the nose is obstructei. Mothers and /
nurses should see that these little noses are /
kept free, and they ,an save their charges /
rom this unsig htly affection If they are
,nly watchful
With mature mouth breatbers much Of the |
treatment rests with themselves. They /
must first have physician or surgeon TO I
emoye any causes that interfere with the /
rec passage of air througu the nose. These
nay exist in the form of ~catarrh," polypi
distorted septum, etc. all o. which are
lraple After this has been done the /
hances are for complete recovery, be
ause less perseverance, viii be required.
iany viii say that trey can not keep their
mouths closet while asleep This is true. but