The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-05-29
EARTH EATEN AS FOOD.
Clay Prepared and Sold inthe Tropics
Where Thousands Have
the Habit.

Chemists Of Copenhagen have just
been analyzing two specimens of the
earth that is eaten by natives in a dis
trict on the upper Congo river. One
specimen, of the color Of yellow ochre
and easily reduced to fine powder
between the fingers, contained silicic
acid, oxide Of aluminium, soda, traces
of iron and small quantity of organ
ic matter.
The second specimen, gray in color
and resembling ordinary clay, was
composed Of materials much like those
in the other except that it contained
no soda and more organic matter.
Grains Of fine sand were found in the
yellow, but not in the gray specimens.
A search for bacteria gave no result.
Only the iron and the soda could be
assimilated by the eaters Of these sub
stances. The yellow earth came from
the coffee plantations at Bangala, but
the origin of the gray earth is not
known. Not few of the Congo tribes
eat considerable quantities Of earth,
says the New York Sun.
The habit Of earth eating prevails
in most tropical lands, and is particu-
larly widespread among the blacks Of
Africa and The natives of the East
Indies. Where it occurs among civil
lized nations it is regarded as symp-
tom of a vitiated appetite.
Humboldt studied the practice
among the aborigines Of America 1t
is occasionally observed in Europe.
Lasch says that German quarrymen
spread clay on slices of bread and eat
it with evident relish; also that
among barbarous peoples pregnant
women are especially addicted to the
habit of eating clay.
The practice in Guatemala is allied
with religious superstition During
some of the religious ceremonies the
faithful devour statuettes made of
clay. In Persia a certain kind of earth
is considered a delicacy and an epicu-
rean relish.
In the Malay archipelago ampoh
earth is sold at the stores. The prac-
tice is widely spread in China, New Cal
edonia and New Guinea. Those who
are habitually addicted TO it are said
to be more liable than others to con-
sumption, Inflammation Of the liver
and anaemia.
The testimony of many travellers in
the orient is that the yellow races
are especially addicted to the harm
full practice In Java and Sumatra
the clay used undergoes preliminary
for consumption.
According to Mr. HelSmeyer, who'is
in charge Of the distribution
Of drugs throughout the Dutch East
Indies. the clay is mixed with water
to reduce it to a paste and the sand
and other hard substances are re-
moved. The clay is then formed into
small cakes or tablets about as thick
as lead pencil and baked in an iron
saucepan. When the tablet energies
from this process it resembles a piece
Of dried pork.
The Jayanese frequently eat small
figures roughly modelled from clay
which resembles animals or little men
in our pastry shops The
earth which is most in favor in China
For eating purposes is a white clay con-
tanning minute bits of silica. but with
out organic remains The Annamese
consider the sticky and savorless earth
which they eat as great delicacy,
II may be said on the whole. that
here is no nutritive principle in any
appreciable quantity in the indigesti-
Die earthcakes consumed by Asian or
othec earth eaters.
Once in awhile clay eater turns up
lmong the negroes of this country
Three years ago scrubwoman en-
'loyed in the capitol at Atlanta was
aiken to the police court on the charge
IF devouring some Of the finest speci-
mems of kaolin on exhibition in the
state geological department.
The geologist discovered one day the
IMPRINT Of teeth on some of the speci-
mems, and five blocks of clay which
we're particularly valued because of I
heir purity were missing. The col
'red scrubwoman was caught with
races of the clay still on her lips. and
he produced a small box in which
he was outstanding all of it that she
lad not consumed. 1t was found that
he had been indulging her strange ap-