Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-03-16
NO PHYSIc WITH OUR FOOD.

A PHOSPHATE BAKING POWDER THEORY
THAT Is DANGEROUS IF NOT RIDICULOUS.
That is rather a dangerous propo-
sition, put forth by the manufactur-
ers of some of the patented or propri-
etary articles of food, that their prod
ucts possess a superior wholesomeness
because they contain drug OF some
particular medicinal property. Phos-
pilates, 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 ply
stefan who should prescribe either cal
omel, or strychnine, or rhubarb three
times day to man, woman and child,
sick or we'll, because either of such
drugs is q well known remedy for some
certain disease, would receive but lit
tie honor from the fraternity and less
practice from the community.
No one will controvert this state
ment; vet we find manufacturers of
baking powders claiming superior by
r,5iiird urging; thefr continuous use be-
cause they are alleged to carry the
phosphate used in making them Ca
cheap substitute for cream of tartar,
produced 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 ar
ticle this drug must pass into our sys-
tens 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 such drug would be positively
detrimental Both alum and phos-
pilates are useful indictments in GER
tain diseases; but they should no more
be taken Unfortunately day after
day and without the prescription of
physician, than arsenic, 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 as medicine.
The fallacy of this claim of the man
ufacturers of phosphate baking pow
ders will be apparent to 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 assimilated, as is evidenced by the
fact that they are constantly being eX-
PEELED in the eXcretions, both solid
and liquid; likewise the statement
that it is necessary to add phosphates
to the baking powder TO restore to the
flour those which have been lost in
the milling, for it is true that fine
flour as at present made actually con
tains a larger percentage of phOS
pilates 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 as to render it
when baked easy of mastication and
perfectly digestible. The most cele-
brated experts in the business have
worked for the perfection of an arti-
Gle that should do this mechanically,
adding to or taking from the flour
nothing, nor in any way affecting a
change in its properties or constitu-
ents When this has been done the
perfect leayening agent has been dis
covered. The manufacturers of the
Royal Baking Powder have succeeded
in this so far as to make a leavening
agent that vesiculates and raises the
loaf most perfectly, and without
changing the properties of the flour,
while the residuum from it has been
reduced to minimum. The acid EN-
ployed, however, to produce this re-
suit is not phosphate, but the acid of
highly refined cream of tartar, which,
the health authorities agree, renders
that powder perfectly pure and more
reliable and healthful than any other.
The recent official tests show, on the
other hand, that the best the phos-
phatic baking powder makers can do
is to produce an article that is one
third or more residuum or impurity.
We want our food pure; especially
do we not wish to take alum, lime and
phosphates with it at the dictum of
manufacturers who may findit cheaper
to claim virtue for the impurities
than to remove them.