Telegram-herald., 1888-05-09
NO PHYSIC WITH OUR FOOD.
Phosphate Baking Powder Theory tina
IL Dangerous IL Not Ridiculous.

A Phosphate Baking Powder Theory that
is Dangerous II Not Ridiculous.
That is rather s. dangerous proposition
put forth by the manufacturers of some of
the patented or proprietary articles of food,
that their products possess a superior whole
someness because they contain q drug of
some particular medicinal property. Phos-
phstes alum, lime, arsenic. calomel, etc.,
have their places as specifics for different
diseases. and are invaluable medical
remedies, each in its place. But they are
not cure-alls. The physician who should
describe either calomel, or strychnine, or
rnubarb, three times a day 10 man, woman
and child. sick or well. because either of
such drugs is a well known remedy for
some certain disease, would receive but
little honor srom the fraternity and less
practice from the community.
No one will controvert this statement
yet we find manufacturers OF baking pow
ders claiming superior hygienic virtue for
their productions and urging their contin-
uous use because they are alleged TO carry
the phosphate used in making them Ia
cheap substitute for cream of tartar, pro-
cured from the bones of dead animals) into
the food, although welt aware. as they must
be, Of the fact that with the constant use
| systems daily, no matter what may be our
| physical conditions or requirements, or
whether or not We may be suffering from
some ailment wherein the use OF such drug
would be positively detrimental. Both
| alum and phosphates are useful medica-
nents in certain diseases; but they should
| no more be- taken indiscriminately day
| after day and without the prescription OF a
| physician. than e-senic. aconite or calomel:
| indeed. there are conditions of the system.
particularly with women. when the prudent
| physician would be loath TO permit the use
| Of lime phosphates even xs medicine
The fallacy OF this claim of the manufsc-
tursrs of phosphate baking powders will be
| apparent 10 all when the fact, well known
| TO physicians, is stated. that in average
health and with ordinary food the body
| gets more phosphates than are required or
| can be sssimilated, as is evinced by the fact
| that thep are constantly being expelled in
| the excretious, both solid and liquid; like
wise the statement that it is necessary 10
| add phosphates to the baking powder to re-
store to the -four those which have been
| lost in the milling. for il Is true that fine
| -four, as at present made. actually contains
a larger percentage of phosphates than the
| grain of wheat itself.
| The object Of baking powders is not to
| provide the body with a medicine. but
simply 20 vesiculste or make light the mix
I ture Of -four. so as to render u when
baked easy Of mssticstion and perfect,
| digestible. The most celebrated experts in
the business have worked for the perfection
of an article that should do this mechanic
ally, adding 10 OF taking from the foui
nothing. nor in any way ehsctins change
| in its properties or constituents. When
this has been done the perfect leaTeninI
agent has been discovered The manufac-
t1rsrs Of the ROYAL Bsksng Powder have
succeeded in this 80 far ss 20 makes lesveT
ing agent that visculates and raises th'
loaf most perfectly. and vithout changing
the propertie. Of the -four. while the resr
| dunn from ID hss been reduced TO . MINI
| mum. Ire acid employed however TO prodgcs
| this result - not phOsp phatic, but tn led oi
| highly refined cream Of tartar. which. The
| health Authorities agree. renders that pow
der perfectly pure and more reliable aDd
hesitbf8l than any other. Toe recent
! official tests shor. on the other hand. that
the best the phosphate baking powder
| makers can do Is 20 prod1ce 20 article that
is one-third or more residrum or in.
! purity.
Ne vsut our food pure especially ID rs
{ not Vish % tske alum. line ana pb0sDh stea
With il al the dictum of roan1fsctsrefs wbc
/ may fnd II cheaper 70 cisim virtue -
| toe impurities tbsn - remove them