OLEOMAKGAEINE. 149 



prepared this stuff according to the specifications of certain patents, 

 we can not repel the conviction that the greatest care must be exer- 

 cised or they will contaminate the product. By referring to patent 

 No. 263199, it will be seen that about 150 pounds of melted lard is 

 thoroughly 'washed' that is, mixed with 60 gallons of ice water 

 holding in solution 3 ounces of nitric acid (strong) and borax. The 

 lard solidifies in this solution, and while solid is washed in 60 gallons of 

 ice water. Every time this quantity of fat is washed in the acid water 

 1 ounce more of nitric acid is added, which shows that this amount 

 of nitric acid is considered to be taken up by the lard. In the manu- 

 facture of ' oleo ' under this patent from 5 to 50 per cent of this 

 deodorized lard is added to commercial oleomargarine oil. 



' ' The whole is then subjected to a heat of 95 F. (which is not sufficient 

 to melt it) and churned with milk or cream, sugar, and coloring mat- 

 ter. It is then treated with ice water, which causes it to rapidly and 

 completely solidify. After mixing thoroughly and salting it is ready 

 for market. 



' * It will be seen by this process that the fat, after being treated 

 with nitric acid, is never again subjected to a thorough washing, and 

 in view of the fact that fats possess the property of retaining free 

 acids with remarkable tenacity, it is difficult to believe that the marketed 

 product does not contain nitric acid. 



"The following is the conclusion of Nothnagel and Rossbach concern- 

 ing the effect of small, greatly diluted doses of acids: 



" ' When acids are used for too long a time the appetite and digestion 

 are finally injured and a series- of pathological conditions result. 



" 'It is readily supposable that the long-continued administration of 

 diluted mineral acids to the living organism leads to the decomposition 

 of the alkaline combinations with the weaker acids, e. g., carbonic 

 acid, or with the albuminoids, the stronger acids uniting with these 

 alkalis and being excreted with the urine as mineral salts, so that not 

 only the blood, but the whole body, would become poorer in alkalis 

 and salts. 



" 'Salkowski and Lasar proved directly that the alkalescence of the 

 blood is diminished by the internal administration of dilute mineral 

 acids.' 



"We now return to the question, is artificial butter a wholesome 

 article of food? It seems to us, from the facts set forth in the fore- 

 going pages, that there can be but one answer to this question. 



"We do not mean to say that every individual who eats artificial 

 butter will sicken and die any more than every man who uses ardent 

 spirits, tobacco, or narcotics to excess would do so, but what we do 

 mean to say is that it, like them, possesses physiological properties 

 4 unfavorable to health ' and are very liable to possess ingredients very 

 dangerous to health. Dyspepsia is a prevalent disease in this country 

 and is not acquired in a day, for a strong stomach will stand much 

 abuse before it will permanently rebel. 



"Several instances are on record where pennies and other metallic 

 substances have been swallowed and digested; even jackknives have 

 been swallowed and their bone handles completely digested, but no 

 person would consider these healthy articles of diet. 



"Strong, vigorous men and those whose habits are invigorating to 

 the digestive powers might substitute a food hard of digestion for an 

 easy one for a long time with apparent impunity, but weaker men 



