The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-28
DANGER IN PoTs AND PANS.
The Deadly Microbe May Infest Our
Cooking Utensils.
Brooklyn Eagle.

Brooklyn Eagle.
1t is an uneasy time for human beings.
The microbe has come to us within the last
forty years, and is here TO stay. We have
to filter and boil everything before using
or eating it in order to destroy the bacilli;
we do not dare to sleep in the woods any
more on account of the malarial exhala-
tions, and we are even to be operated on,
or dosed, or have something done TO us,
to destroy the germs of melancholy or OF
not paying our debts We are surrounded
by poisons. The wonder is that one OF US
is alive. Children who used to sail toy
boats in little ponds are now aware that
it was a scientific duty to have diphtheria
and typhoid fever all the time they were
doing it. Green apples are not a clrcuin-
stance to the bacillus, though perhaps the
greenness is also due to bacilli. And now
we come to another danger, not unsuspect-
ed. in the cans, the metal dishes that We
use about our kitchens and cooking apPA-
ances. AS to this there is no doubt that
the danger is real, and 1t is the worse be
cause it is difficult to detect. The man
who buys canned tomatoes. for instance
finds nothing wrong with them until aIteT
dinner, when he is seized with nausea ana
doubled UP by cramps: Then ne Knows
what he wishes he had known before: that
the acid Of the tomatoes has acted on the
tin lining of the can or on the lead III the
solder and has poisoned him. Instances OF
death have occurred from the drinking OF
water that stood for ten or a dozen hours
in lead pipes. the common pipes OF our
houses. The deadly nature of certain nalr
dyes is due 10 the use In them or a prep
aration of lead. The paints and powders
used by some women and all actors are
not without their peril Arsenic IN wal
ness. Even certain colors in textiles are
said to have injured the health or people
who stayed too much in the house.
The American Journal of Health gives q
warning against kitchen utensils that are
covered with enamel TO keep the steel from
rusting. II would seem as If iron rust we're
less dangerous than the protection. IL says
that unless the steel OF which these pols
and kettles are composed IS first treated
xryf+t Oh 81 he Ell will M
adhere and the food that is cooked in them
will absorb more or less of the salts or
metals contained In the coating. Out OF
twenty different kinds OF protected ware
only one was found free from possible con-
as II does not oxidiZe, and its lightness ana
brightness commend 1t for kitchen Use; out
If heavier material is to be used u Is Wei
to make sure that 1t is safe. The poisonous
substances in the enames are said TO De
arsenic anthony and lead Neither or
these is nutritious. and food Is better with
out them. 1t may be that some or the
slight and unaccountable Illnesses that have
fruits and vegetables boiled or stewed in
these dishcs-t0matOeS. rhubarb. apples,
Strawberries compounds favored with
lemon-haye their origin IN the disintegra-
by the food OF the arsenic or whatsoever
else is employed in II. Even where the en-
amel IS commonly applied with skill ana
understanding. II may happen that work
man may spill an undue quantity OF pol
son into the mixture or that the fusing
may be imperfect. and it does not take
much arsenic or lead 10 cause Illness. while
a succession OF poisonlrlgs max result ~
lifelong stomach trouble. our health
boards might look after this matter. when
d number Of stomach aches e the course
OF 4 year.