Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-03-10
Oleomargarlne.

The leading article in the latest
number Of the Medical News is de-
voted to discussion of the oleomar-
garlne question by Prof. G. G. Cald-
well. After describing the processes
Of manufacture, and showing that the
butterine product may be as clean
and wholesome as real butter, the
writer says it is not so digestible,
though not less so than are any other
animal fats except butter. lie does
not believe any satisfactory proof has
ever been furnished of the presence
of disease germs in the artificial
product, unless when admittedly In a
decomposing state, and no case or
disease, nor any general specific form
of disease, can be pointed out as due
even in the most indirect manner TO
the use of this food product.
There is no positive proof that but
terine Is now made Of disease-cauSing
materials, or ever has been, though
dyspepsia may possibly be favored by
| its large use, due to cheapness. And
it can hardly be said that the passage
of national law has given any better
assurance than previously existed
that only a clean and pure product
will be sold. The chief motive for
such legislation was that Of attempt
ing to save from pecuniary damage
another industry working along the
same line; and it is not surprising
that many regard it as unjust to pro-
hibit the manufacture or sale or this
substance whether directly or by such
ridiculous subterfuges as requiring 1t
to be colored pink or any other aD'
normal hue.
But, on the other hand, Oleomarga-
rine is not butter, and it is wrong to
sell it as butter, no matter how good
the imitation may be. Probably lts
manufacturers and sellers have
brought upon themselves all the
trouble in the way Of prohibltlvc
legislation by their attempts to sell
it as butter. "All over the civilized
world general or special laws exist
prohibiting the selling Of anything
for what it is not, and no one denie:
the equity of those laws" When
! man sells oleomargarine as butter III
is violating those laws, and just II
, proportion to the ease with which tn
> imitation can be palmed of for wha
, it is not, and just in proportion TO Ia
! value of other useful industries tina
are injured by such deceit, should b
= the penalties imposed on the fraud
: The efficiency of the means for 10
detection ought to be ample, so tina
= the producer OF the genuine artlcl
q need not to go far out of his way 10
q the means of defense. Therefor
! laws requiring that oleomargarin
q shall be sold for just what it is ar
q lust laws, no matter how stringen
( they may be.
= Furthermore, the writer indicate
= it as his conviction that there Is wor
for the boards Of health in connectlO
. with the manufacture and sale OF tn
r. food product in States where tines
v are permitted. Especially should i
:. manufacture be watched. This neet
= to be done at least until it has bee
= fully established that only clear IA
4 from animals killed in health can
n used, and there is some doubt IN 7
:, gard to this point. Tho large liceni
i free required throws the manufactu
a. into comparatively few hands, al
n thus inspection is rendered more cas-
- Under such restrictions 10 should see
N that the trade in this food produ
20 might safely be left to itself, and tn
p il might be blessing to the col
IN munity as a whole in supplying
% low prices savory substitute for br
n ter, far better in quality than me
of that which the poorer classes ha
no to eat if they can get only genui
y. butter. And as to those who can
at ford to pay for good butter the opp
re tunity to get it will be better,
Il dairymen will be obliged to make go
- butter if they make butter at all.