The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1896-06-19
ARTIFICIAL FOOD.
Time IL e. ming When We Shall Dine
On Pink Tablets.

is coming when bread and beef and
milk or their equivalents will be pro-
duced artificially in the laboratory OF
the chemist, says the New York Jour
nal. Prof. Berthelot, the distinguished
French chemist, is the authority for
this statement and he declares that the
first steps have already been taken
and he is sure that the coming genera
tion will have such artificial food. II
will be the same food chemically,
digestively and nutritively speaking, but
will differ in form. Just what the form
OF the food will be is not hinted at, ex-
cept that it will probably be served cold
In the shape oftablets, and of any color
or shape that may be desired. Prof.
Berthelot says gourmets and epicures
may mourn, but he feels assured when
they have grown accustomed TO the
change they will eat nothing prepared
in any other way. In the future
burned beefsteak, chop or outlet will
be thing unknown and a steak well
done may be ordered in a dim brown
colored tablet or steak rare may be
ordered in tablet of light rose hue.
The colors alone, the chemical prophet
declares, will delight the epicurean
senses and do much to overcome the
prejudices that are bound to exist when
the change is finally introduced. 1t has
been demonstrated that even at present
tea and coffee could be made artifcially
in the chemists laboratory IL the neces-
sity or the commercial opportunity
should arise. Sugar is another COM
modify universally used that can now
be made in the laboratory, and an in
vention has been patented by which.
1t Is claimed, sugar can be made on a
commercial scale from two gases at a
price OF little more than cent a pound.
In long and interesting report on the
possibilities of obtaining food products
by artificial means Prof. BertheIot
says: THE essential principle of both
tea and coffee is the came. The diff
ference Of name between them and
caffein has arisen from the sources from
which they were obtained They are
chemically identical in constitution and
their essence has often been made syn
thetically. The penultimate stage in
the synthesis is theo-bromine. the es-
sential principle of cocoa. Thus it NAV
be seen that synthetic chemistry Ia
ready to furnish from its laboratories
The three great non-alcoholic bever-
ages in general use. And what is true
u food substances is equally applicable
all other organic substances" There
IS little or no limit to the professors
concerning the changes in
he present existing condition of affairs
N this mundane sphere. He says: "If
me chooses to base dreams. prophetic
ancies and so forth upon the parts OF
he present one may dream of altera.
ions In the present conditions of hu.
nan life SO great as to be beyond our
conception. One can
oresee the disappearances of the beasts
rom the fields, because horses will no
onger be used for traction or cattle
or food. The countless acres now
fven over to the growing of grain and
reducing vines will be agricultural an
lquities which will have passed out OF
he memory of men. The equal distri-
ution Of natural food materials will
ave done away with protectionism.
ith custom houses, with national
'ontiers, kept wet with human blood.
len will have grown too wise for war
nd wars roooccifv xv;11 h,-o ooo.,1 A..
=. The air will be filled with aerial
otors. flying by forces borrowed from
lemistry. Distances will diminish and
e distinction between fertile and nom
rtile regions, from the causes named.
Ill largely have PASSED away. 1t may
zen transpire that deserts now unin-
lbited may be made to blossom and
sought after as great seats of popu-
tion in preference to the alluvial
aims and rich valleys" The new food
at it is predicted the coming genera
IN will live upon-in fact, the great
oportion OF our staple foods which
e now obtained by natural growth
III be manufactured direct through
2 advance of synthetic chemistry,
I'm their constituent elements, car
n, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.
an evidence Of the possibility of the
entful disappearance Of agriculture,
OF. Berthelot cited as an instance Of
'oratory products the dye stuff aIizar-
>, the coloring principle of madder,
lich was formerly a great agricuiz
raj industry. but which is now al
'st wholly supplanted by the artif.
Il product from coal tar. He also
clares that chemists can now make
ligo direct from its elements and ar
cial indigo will soon become great
nmercial product. A century hence,
all that Is predicted is true, people
Il be eating their soup, meat, fish and
setables in tablets that will come in
boxes labeled keep 1t in a COO,
zee" and they may be eating a full
lrse dinner while running for train.