The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-09-18
SONlJ. POISON FOODS.
scientists Have Discovered Why They
Prove Irritating to Many Stomachs.

woods Hutchinson, NJ. d.. contrib
utes to McClure's Magazine for Sem
tember an article separating three
classes Of poison foods" commonly
used in small quantities without
7 harmful effect from the comestibles
tlat lorm staples of diet. Indeed.
some Combination Of the few kinds
OF mamWalian meats, maise. wheat
rice, butter oil, sugar and salt, two
thirds Of the money expended for food
by every civilized. race and most bar
barrie ones" goes to purchase:
Science has, of course, long ago
vindicated the good sense Of human
ltys selection by showing that they
contain the highest degree os fuel
value, digestibility. and freedom from
injurious results that is to DE had for
the price--in 'mos5 case, in iced, at
any price.
The virulent poison Of the oassava
root can be extracted, an It's starch
is perfectly edible. The tubera of the
potato also. contain modicum of
poison, which cooking eliminates.
These roots represent a. small group
OF poison foods"
The second and main group has
but just been found out" scientifi-
cally speaking, although human stom-
achs long ago detected it's influence.
Peas, beans, chestnuts, peanuts and
all nuts. brown bread and cheese pos
sess nutritive value at least equal to
the staples. and have, therefore. been
much affected by the faddists. OF
these DR.. Hutchinson says:
Studies made from another point of
view in the laboratories are begin
ming to throw a flood Of light on the
reason for the failure of these foods
promptly to meet with favor on the
part of the public. revealing the sur
prising fact that many articles of
food contain, combined with their
high percentage of nutritive value,
substances which are irritating to the
stomach. disturb digestion, or may
even behave as active poisons.
AS for the bean-Boston take no.
tice-"coiled amid it's rich store of
pretend and fat, like guardian dra-
gons lie an aromatic oil and a bitter
alkaloid. both poisonous to the sus-
ceptible stomach in small amounts,
and to the average one in larger" II
some one could invent "a process Of
surely extracting its poisonous ele-
ments he would not only confer a
general benefit, but would save many
devoted lives Of misguided diet re-
formers and vegetarians. The banana
rich in sugar and starch, even at it's
proper ripeness has an irritant in it's
flavoring essences. Why nuts can new
er form a staple is thus indicated:
An irritating principle has been
found present in all nuts. partly in
the kernel itself and partly in the
skin which surrounds the kernel,
which. evens In cases OF very moderate
amounts. is very. decided irritant to
the digestive canal. Peanuts-which,
Of course, are not nuts at all, but the
seeds Of species of pea which is ar
tiicially caused to develop under
greund-are particularly strong in
these poisonous extracts.
The third class belong to the order
Of casual criminals;" and that is,
when eaten with due moderation they
are Of highf practical value as gar
nishes-most fruits, especially straw
berries. several varieties Of common
vegetables, and some "ea foods" The
tomato. WHICH has the worst popular
reputation, Seems comparatively free
from actual offense.'' OF coffee and
tea much depends on the mode. of
preparation and the AMOUNTS drunk.
but few discoveries OF the wit of
man have added more to the comfort
and happiness Of life and less to its
series than tea and coffee"-New
York. Times.