New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-08-15
NO PHYsIC WITH OUR FOOD.
Phosphate Baking POaUde3'
Il Theory that IS Dangerous If
not Ridiculous.


That is rather dangerous PROPOSE
ton, put forth by the manufacturers Of
some OF the patented or proprietary ar
ticles OF food, that their products pos
sess a superior Wholesomeness because
they contain drug of some particular
medicinal property. Phosphates, alum,
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 prescribe
either calomel. or strychnine, or rhu-
barb three times day to man, woman
and child, sick or well. because either
OF such drugs is a we'll known remedy
for some certain disease, would receive
but little honor from the fraternity and
less practice from the community.
No one will controvertthiss statement;
yet we find manufacturers of baking
powders claiming superior hygienic yir-
tue for their productions and urging
their continuous use because they are
alleged to carry the phosphate used in
making them Ca cheap substitute for
cream of tartar, procured from the
bones of dead animals) into the food,
although we'll 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 positive
ly detrimental. Both alum and phos-
pilates are useful medicaments in GER
tain diseases; but they should no more
be taken unfortunately day after day
and without the prescription of a physi-
clan, than arsenic. aconite or ca!omel /;
indeed, there are conditions of the sys-
tenn, particularly with women, when
the prudent physician would be loath to
permit the use of lime phosphates even
as medicine.
The fallacy of this claim Of the manu-
facturers Of phosphate baking powders
will be apparent to all when the fact,
| well known to physicians. is stated,
| that in average health and with ordi-
nary food the body gets more phos-
pilates than are required or can be as
simulated, as is evidenced by the fact
that they are constantly being expelled
in the excretions, both solid and liquid
/ likewise the statement that it is neces-
sary to add phosphates to the baking
powder to restore to the flour those
which have been lost in the milling, fol
it is true that fine -four as at present
made actually contains larger per.
centage Of phosphates than the grain o.
wheat itself.
The object Of baking powders is moi
/ toproyide the body with a medicine
but simply to vesiculate or make Hgh1
the mixture OF flour, so as to render il
when baked easy of mastication ane
perfectly digestible. The most cele
brated experts in the business have
worked for the perfection of an article
that should do this mechanically, add
ing to or taking from the flour nothing
nor in ony way efecting change in it:
properties or constituents. When thi!
has been done the perfect leavenine
agent has been discovered. The man
ufacturers Of the Royal Baking Powder
have succeeded in this SO tar as to max,
a leavening agent that vesiculates ant
raises the loaf most perfectly, and with
out changing the properties of th'
flour, while the residuum from it ha
i been reduced to Aluminium. Theacit
employed, however, to produce this re
suit is not phosphate, but the acid o
j highly geined cream of tartar, which
the health authorities agree, render
that powder perfectly pure and NOR,
reliable and heahhful than any other
The recent official tests show, on th
other hand, that the best the phosphate
i baking powder makers can do is to pre-
q dnce an article that is one-third or NOR
residuum or impurity.
4 We want our food pure; specially d
we not wish to take alum, lime ant
phosphates with it at the dictum q
manufacturers who may find it cheape
to claim virtue for the impnritie
than to remove them.