The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-07
But 1t Is Slowly Undermining
Their Health.
A YOUNG LADY WASTING AWAY
The Habit Grows Before the Victim
Knows 1t and Cannot Be
Shaken Off.

store Few days ago. ana never mlnQ
wrapping it up."
The clerk did as requested and the lady
at once tore off a corner of the box and
poured out quantity of the white powder
into her gIoved hand.
A young girl who accompanied her
looked surprised at the performances, but
was almost dumfounded when the lady
transferred the chalk-like substance to
her mouth and swallowed it ravenously.
1 tried hard not to do that, dear" the
lady said to the girl as they were leaving
the store. shut 1 couldn't help it. You
know l eat cornstarch all the time, and
have got 10 have box or so OF it every
day. l haven't had any since last night,
and | was so hungry for it that l nearly
died."
but don't you think it bad habit that
is likely to be Injurious" asked the girl,
with curious expression as she looked at
her companion.
Yes, sometimes l do think il a bad
habit, but don't see how il can be injuri-
Gus. because it is nothing but pure nour-
ishing food, and yet | often think it must
be hurtful, because l have such craving
for ii, and when i have eaten lot get
so awfully sleepy"
The lady and her companion went up
the street, but CALL reporter. who had
overheard the conversation, stopped to
question the grocer in regard to what he
knew about people eating raw cornstarch.
He didn't know much. never having eaten
any himself, be said. but he knew several
women who consumed large quantities of
the stuff. sit doesn't hurt them, though"
be said.
After finding one constant eater the ad-
dresses of a dozen more were obtained, all
residing within a few blocks of Suffer and
Polk streets. All the women were willing
to talk, and what they SAID is sufficient to
warrant the statement that the habit of
eating corn starch is an evil in the land.
All the women who acknowledged hay
ing the habit were in the upper classes OF
society, and two of them are acknowledged
leaders. Some of them made an effort to
control the habit, and nothing could be
told from their appearance that they were
not in the best health, but others ate all
they could get and very little of anything
else. Give them cornstarch and they
were happy, but they had the appearance
of opium-eaters.
The wors. case found by the reporter
was that of a lady of. perhaps. so years of
age. She ackn owledged that she was
slave TO cornstarch, and, il she did not
have il, suffered the fortunes Of whisky
drunkard deprived of liquor.
In appearance this lady was like a
corpse. Her skin was as white as wax,
and her eyes were sunk deep in her head
and had heavy black rings around them.
She had no more flesh Cd her bones than a
consumptive in the last stages.
"Oh, it tastes so good" she said, taking
a spoonful of cCrnstarch from a box, land
makes me feel so warm. Besides that,
can sleep so we'll after eating il. 1t is
positive fact that after eating a box of
cornstarch 1 can sleep fourteen hours
without waking"
Don't you think it hurts your" asked
the reporter.
NO." answered the lady, taking another
spoonful. 1T is harmless stuff and very
nourishing. l have little stomach trouble
that the doctor is treating me for, but he
doesn't seem to do me much good"
Have you told him you eat such guam
titles of corustarch ?" asked the reporter.
"Why. no." answered the lady in sur
prise. "Wbat difference can that make ?
| Corn starch is nice, and / am sure il can do
me no harm"
Any number OF women who are victims
of the cornstarch habit were to be found.
but none of them could see how the stuff
could hurt them in any way. Most of
them were in perfect state of health an.
parently, and the symptoms of the use of
cornstarch seemed Ito be about the
same to each of them. All acknowledged
that the craving was uncomfortable at
times, and that a spoonful of starch would
be preferable to a dish of ordinary food
prepared by the best cook In the world.
The first feeling that starch was wanted
was sense of GOODNESS all over the body
and ravenous hunger. II the feeling was
grstified a gentle warmth was soon an.
parent, and if larger quantity of starch
was eaten the hands and feet became hot
and a languor took possession of the
senses. Sometimes the hands and feet
swell, and the desire for starch continues
until sleep comes.
Most of the victims had no desire for
any other food as long as they could get
starch.
81 didn't like cnrnstarch at first" said
young lady of is, now confirmed eater.
"but friend who used to eat it gave me
little every day until at last bought
some for myself. Now must have it. and
mamma does not care. She says she
would rather have me eat that than
candy"
Each victim had different story to tell
of the way the habit took held of their.
but all acknowledged that the effect was
very great ANY way it is harmless stuff
and can't possibly hurt me" was the way
all Of them consoled themselves for giving
way 70 their peculiar taste.
The effect on some of them did not M
hold their statement that it was harmless.
so visit was made to DR.. Jerome A.
Anderson and his opinion asked on the
subject.
well, that's the worst l ever heard"
said the doctor, when the cases were ex
planned to him. "But women do ACQUIRE
the queerest habits. / have had patients
who had constant desire for charcoal.
paper, slate pencils. etc. But this starch
habit is something new. and now tina. IL
has come to me 1t may be the explanation
0f aaUaraI liar nf