Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-01-13
AIexanaria @asttte.
"WEDNESDAY EVENING, JAN 1s, * 7.
.pOlSONS IN EVERYDAY FOOD.
Iutinitesimal In Quantity, but Virulent II
Concentrated.

Concentrated.
One of the curious and little
known facts brought to light by re-
cent Investigations is that in almost
every kind of food some small
amount of poison is to be found.
Often the quantity is SO small that
chemical analysis does not reveal it,
and it is only discovered by certain
effects upon the human system I'M
der certain conditions. Small as
these quantities of poison are, how
ever, in comparison with the other
constituents Of any enc food, they
do exist, and are poisons of dead
ly sort. Concentrated, the amount
of poison that is taken into the sys-
tenn during an average lifetime
would be sufficient to kill an army
instantly. Yet the extremely minute
fragments absorbed during each
meal not only do no harm, but seem
almost health giving. At least, it is
certain that many of the most dan
gerous and destructive substances
known exist in tangible quantities
in some of the most valued foods.
Foods that contain the worst poi
sons in these tiny quantities may be
eaten constantly without any unfor
tunate results. There is no more pop
ular and widely used food than the
potato. In Ireland, in certain dis
t1icts, little else is eaten, and the
peasants thrive wonderfully on
them. Yet the potato belongs to the
same botanical class as the deadly
pightshade and has in it the same
poisonous element.
Many other vegetables have the
same curious quality. In nearl,
every vegetable and fruit that grows
above the ground, except the cab
bage class, what are known as vege-
table acids exist. There is different
one in each vegetable and variety
of fruit, and all are deadly poisons.
Nevertheless, it would be impossible
to get sufficient quantity into the
stomach at single meal to do even
the slightest injury, and the gastric
Juice absorbs and renders harmless
these poisons unfailingly.
Tapioca is another food substance
that contains poison. This has long
been known. The fact was again
called to the attention of scientists
by Henry NJ. Stanley, who carried
in his kit on one of his journeys i'll
the dark continent a large quaint
ty of tapioca, and had the opportp-
nifty to detect the danger in its use
when not properly prepared. Under
proper conditions tapioca is not
harmful, but poison is present in it
in such large quantity that many
precautions should be taken.
Even beer has its portion of poi
son, a substance known as picro-tox-
in. Lemon juice contains a virulent
and dangerous element-citric acid
and in many of the lemon drops
and bottles of lemon juice CONNER
cially prepared this substance is
made up in the laboratory and mix
ed with disregard of he.way ma
ture does it: The natural juice Of
the lemon is not in the least poison
Gus, even taken in large quantities,
but lemon juice chemically made, as
it frequently is for the trade, needs
to be looked warily at
Bitter almonds have poison in
them to such perceptible extent
that actual cases Of poisoning are CD
record Strawberries and rhubarb
contain oxalic acid. This, as almost
everybody knows, is one of the
most deadly and rapid poisons when
used in any appreciate quantity.
Certain people are affected quickly
by even few Strawberries. Lob
sters, shellfish and crabs possess an
irritant poison which produces nau-
sea, vomiting and general depres-
sion in addition to skin eruptions.
In ice cream is sometimes to be
found tyrotoxicon, and clam chow
der, made under the best conditions,
often has ptomaines of virulent
and dangerous sort.-New York
Tribune.