The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-06-25
EARTH EATEN AS FOOD.
clay Prepared mad sold In the Tropics
Where Thousands Have
the Habit.


been analyzlng 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 oehre
and easily reduced 70 fine powder
between the fingers, contained sillcic
acid, oxide Of aluminium, soda, traces
Of iron and a small quantity Of organ
&c matter.
The second specimen, gray In color
and resembling ordinary clay was
composed Of materials much like those
In the other except that II contained
no soda and more organic matter.
Grains OF fine sand were found in the
yellow, but not IN the gray specimens.
4 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 Baugala, 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 Il occurs among civil
lized nations 1t Is regarded as a symp-
tom OF a vitiated appetite,
Humboldt studied the practice
among the aborigines Of America. IL
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 harharous peoples pregnant
women are especially addicted 70 the
habit Of eating clay.
The practice in Guatemala is allied
with religious superstition. During
some Of the religious ceremonies the
faithful devour staiuettes made Of
clay. In Persia a certain kind Of earth
is considered a dclicacy and an eplcu-
rean relish.
In the Malay archipelago ampoh
earth is sold at the stores, The prnc-
the Is widely spread IN China, New Cal
edonia and New Guinea. Those who
arc habitually addicted 20 e are said
70 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
fI practice, In Java and sumatra
the clay used undergoes preliminary
preparation for consumption.
According 10 Mr.. Hetmeyer, who'is
officially IN charge Of the distribution
Of drugs throughout the Dutch East
fpdies, the clay Is mixed with water
10 reduce Il 20 a paste and tho sand
and other hard substances are re-
moved. The clay II then formed into
small cakes OF tablets about as thick
as a lend pencil and baked IN AN iron
saucepan When the tablet emerges
from this process II resembles q piece
OF dried pork
The jasauese frequently cot small
figures roughly modelled from clay
which resembles animals on little men
turnedAosu IN our pastry shops, The
earth which & mosi 90 favor IN China
for eattus purposes is q white clay con-
tanning minute bits Of silica, but with
ont organic remains The Annamese
consider the sticky and satorlesF earth
which they cat rs a great delicacy
Il may Be said. on the whole. that
there is no ruiritive principle In any
appreeiable quantity iu the indlgesti-
bic eartheakes consumed by Asian or
other earth eaters.
Once N awhile clay eater turns NJ
among the negroes of this country
Three years ago a scrubwomnn en-
ployed in the capitol at Atlanta was
taken % TIN police court on the charge
ef devouring some ~ the finest speci.
mems Of kaolin on exhibition IN the
state geological department
The ge0loeisi discovered one day the
imprint of teeth on some o. The speci-
mems and FIVE blocks ~ clay which
were particularly rained because oi
their purity we're missing. The COLI
ored seruhWoman was caught with
traces II the clay still on her lips. and
she produced O small box in which
she was outstanding All of Il that she
had not consumed II was found that
she had beer indulrlne her strange ap-
petite for q considerable time