Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1888-05-09
NO PHYsIc WITH OUR FOOD
A Phosphate Baking Powder Theory that
is Dangerous if not Ridiculous.

Is DdUS6TUuS u uVk UiutSutV0Ss
That is rather dangerous PROPOSE
ton, put forth by the manufacturers
ofsome of the patented or proprietary
articles of food, that their pro-
ducts possess superior wholesome
ness because they contain q drug OF
some particular medicinal property.
Phosphates, alum, lime, arsenic, cal
omel, etc., have their places "a
specifics for different diseases, and are
invaluable medical remedies, each IN
its place. But they are not cure-alls.
The physician who should prescribe
either calomel, or strychnine, or
rhubarb three times day to man or
woman and child sick or well, be-
cause either of such drugs 10 well
known remedy for some certain dis
ease, would receive but little honor
from the fraternity and less practice
from the community.
No one will controvert - this state
ment; yet we find manufacturers Of
baking powders claiming superior
hygienic virtue for their productions
and urging their continuous use be-
cause they are alleged to carry the
phosphate used in making them "a
cheap substitute for cream OF tartar,
procured from the bones of dead ami
mals) into the food, although well
aware, as they must be Of the fact
that with the constant use of such
article this drug must pass into our
systems daily, no matter what may
be our physical conditions or require
ments, or whether or not we may be
suffering from some ailment wherein
the use of such drug would be posi-.
lively detrimental. Both alum and
phosphates are useful medicaments
in certain diseases; but they should
no more be taken Unfortunately
day after day and without the pre-
scription of a physician. than arsenic
aconite or calomel; indeed, there are
conditions Of the system, particularly
with women when the prudent physi-
clan would be loath to premit the use
of lime phosphates even as a msdi-
cine.
The fallacy of this claim Of the
manufacturers of phosphate baking
powders will be apparent to all when
the fact well know to physicians, is
stated, that in average health and
with ordinary food the body gets
more phosphates than are required or
can be assimilated, as is evidenced
by the fact that they are constantly.
being expelled in the excretions, both
solid and liquid; likewise the state
ment that it is necessary to add
phosphates to the baking powder to
restore to the -four those which have
been lost in the milling, for 1t is true
that fine flour as at present made ac-
tually contains a larger PERCENTAGE Of
phosphates than the grain Of wheat
itself.
The object of baking powders is not
to provide the body with medicine,
but simply to vesiculate or make light
the mixture of flour, so rs to render
it when baked easy Of masticatication
and perfectly digestible. The most
celebrated experts in the business
have worked for the perfection of an
article that should do this mechani-
cally, adding to or taking from the.
flour nothing. nor in any way effect
ing change In its properties or con-
stituents. When this has been done
the perfect leavening agent has been
discovered. The manufacturers Of
the Royal Baking Powder have sue
ceeded In this SO far as to make q
leavening agent that vesiculates and
raises the loaf most perfectly, and
without changing the properties Of
The Hour, while the residuum from 1t
has been reduced to o minimum. The
acid employed, however, to produce
this result is not phosphate, but the
acid of highly refined cream Of tartar
which the health authorities agree,
renders that power perfectly pure and