Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-11-07
FINE FLOUR AND APPENDICITIS.
A Physician Says Modern Milling In Re-
sp0nsibie for the Disc Sc.


Changes in milling processes are re
sponsible for appendicitis. according
to a physician who has been in the
practice of medicine for fifty years and
who has observed the spread of the dis
ease. This physician, DIR. II. G. Ho.
ward, of Champaign, ILL.,. asserts that
until the trade demand for exceeding
ly white flour changed the methods of
grinding wheat there was no appendi-
citis.
TOprove this assertion the physician
lpoints to the fact that where coarse
breads are used the disease is unknown,
but that as soon as the fine breadstuffs
are introduced appendicitis comes along
as sequence. By this reasoning it is
shown that the people of agricultural
communities who secured their flour
from small mills did not have the dis
ease until the large ones and fine white
-four supplanted the coarse. Then the
negroes of the South so long as they
ate corn bread were free from the DIS
ease, but when the new process flour
began to be used the disease came
among them. The same results at
tended the departure of the German
folks from their coarse bread to the
refined flour.
81 can remember that prior to about
1876" said DR.. Howard, there was
little or none Of the ailment among
the people. In twenty-five years of
practice among the people before that
time do not think saw more than
forty cases of appendicitis. Now they
are common.
Large and ex. ended change in the
diet of the people has contributed to
this. For example, about the date
mentioned there began to be general
change from the old method of grind.
ing grain to the present method of
roller mills and excessively fine bolt
ing cloths. Thisplan of milling began
first in the large cities, and appended
tbs began to increase first there. Lat
er the new process crowded out the
small mills in the country, and the peo
pie could not get flour made by the old
processes. They bought products of
the large milling establishments, and
then the farmers began to have ap-
pendicitis.
"Still the negroes of the South did
not have it, but in time they began to
get away from their plain corn bread,
and they, too, began to have appendi-
citis., SO it goes. They did not have
in Germany until they be-
gan to eat our fine white flour and put |
in the new process Of milling after our
fashion. Now they have appendicitis
in Germany just as we do.
Experienced millers will tell you
that the fine flour is a less desirable
-four than that made by the old process,
but the trade demands it chiefly on ac
count of its whiteness. On account of
its indigestibility the disarrangement
of the digestive organs of the people
eating it has greatly increased. The
prime cause of appendicitis is found
in the disarrangement.
Quite small children have it. l
know one boy who has bad thirteen
we'll defined attacks Of the disease and !,
came out of all of them without surgi- |
Cal operations. He changed his food
to corn bread and mush, with coarse |
breads in general, vegetables, little
meat and some fruit, and he has taken
on flesh and has not had symptom of |
the disease for three years. ."-Chicago |
Tribune