Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-03-22
no PHTsTo WITH oUR FOoD.
4 Phosphate Baking Po'0der Theory
that Is Dangerous II not Ridiculous


4 Phosphate Baking PoiUder Theory
that is Dangerous II not htdte'''0"S'
That Is rather a dangerous propoSi''On
put forth By the manufacturers OF some Oh
the patented or proprietary articles OF iood'
tina, their products possess superior whole
someness because they contain a drug Of
some particular medicinal property Pho'-
pilates. alum, lime, arsenic, calomei, etc.
have their places as specifics for different
diseases and are invaluable medicinal rem
edies. each in its place. But they are not
eure-alls The physician who should pre-
scribe either calomel, or strychnine, or rhu-
barb three times day 10 man, woman OF
child. sick or well, because either oil those
drugs is a well known remedy for some GER
tain disease. would receive but little honor
from the fraternity aud less practice irom
the community.
No one will controyert this statement;
VET we find manufacturers Of baking pow
dess claiming superior hygenie virtue for
their PRODUCTIONS and urging their eontinu-
oss use because they are alleged to carry
,be phosphate used in making them "a cheap
srr-t;.ute for cream of tartar, procured from
the bones of dead animalsl into the food
although we'll svare, as they must be, OF
tbe mct that w'th.the constant use OF such
article this drug must pass into our systems
daily mo- matter what may be our physical
conditions or requirements, or Whe'her OF
not We NAV 0e suffering from some ailmenl
wherein the use of such drug you'd be pos
itively detrimental Both alum and phoS-
pilates are useful medicaments IN certain
diseases. but obey shsGll no more be taken
iodisc-imiuately day after day aud without
the prescription OF physician, than arsenic
aconite or calomel; indeed there are condl-
lions OF the system, particularly with women
when the prudent physician would be loaIh
20 permit lhe use of lime phosphaies even
SIS a medicine.
The hllacy Of this claim of the manu-
facturers of phosphate baking powders
will be apparent to all when the fact, we'll
known TO physicians, is stated, that in ave-
rage health and with ordinary food the body
gets more phosphates than are required or
can be assimi.a,ed, as Is evidenced by the
fact that they are constantly being expelled
i'm the excretious, both solid and liquid ,
/ likewise the statement that il is necessary
To add phosphatcs TO the baking powder to
restore 20 The flour these which have been
I lost in the milling, for It IS true that fine
/ -four as at present made actually contains a
( larger perccatage of phospha,es than the
grain of wheat itself
The object of baking powders is not 70
provide tbe body with medicine, but simply
to yescu. ate or make light the mixture OF
flour. SO SIS to render ii whca baked easy OF
masticatiou and perfectly d,gcst'ble The
most celebrated experts in the business
have worked for the perfection of an article
that should do this mechanically, adding to
or taking from the flour nothing, nor in any
way cteouug q change in its properties or
J constituents. When TINS mas been done the
perfect ayening agent has been discovered.
The manufacturers of the Royal Baking
Powder have succeeded in this so far as to
make q leayening agent that yesicula,es and
raises the loaf most perfectly, and without
changing the properties Of the flour, while
the residuum from it has been reduced to a
minimum The acid employed, however, to
produce ,his result is not phosphate, but
the acid of highly refined cream of tartar,
which. che health authorities agree, renders
that powder perfectly pure and more relia-
ble and healthiul than any other. The re-
cent official tests show, ON the other hand,
tina. the best the phosphate baking powder
makers cam do is TO produce an article tha.
is one-third or more re,iduum or impurity
We want our food pure; especially do We
not wish Co take alum. lime aud phosphates
with il al the dictum of manufacturers who
may find it cheaper TO claim "A virtue for the
impurities than 20 remove them.