ECONOMY IN FOOD

BY REV. H. S. CLUBB.

OUR last Postscript showed that beef contains 70 per ceut. of water, 10 per cent, nitrogen, 17.7 percent, hydro carbonate (fats and oils) and 2.3 per cent, salts. Now the best beefsteak is sold at 35 cents a pound. But taking the average cost of beef without bone, at 30 cents a pound, and as it takes over 3 pounds of beef to furnish one pound of solid food, the cost of one pound of solid food obtained

from beef is over 60 cents. Lentils, not the cheapest of Vegetarian food in the American market, cost 10 cents a pound, but as they contain only 11 percent, of water, 12 cents is a liberal allowance for one pound of solid food obtained from lentils. Take 12 cents from 60 cents and there is a saving in favor of Vegetarian fare of 48 cents on each pound of solid nourishment. We instance lentils because they furnish more than double the amount of the nitrogenous ele- ment than beef and fiunish the carbo- hydrates as well, of which beef is entirely destitute. Any of the pulses would be equally and most of them more economical than lentils. For instance peanuts contain only 7 per cent of water and 93 per cent, of solid nourishment, and a pound of peanuts can usually be bought without shells from 7 to 10 cents retail.

It is true many choice fiiiits are expensive but there is usually an opportunity during the fruit season for the economist to pur- chase home-grown fruit and choice veget- ables, such as tomatoes, peas, etc., at a very low figure, and by canning or other in- expensive methods, preserve them for use until fresh fruit and vegetables are again in season. And even those who cannot do this, the low price of canned goods enable all to obtain an abundant supply at moderate cost of all the fruits and vegetables required for a family in great and even luxurious variety throughout the year.

The experiment of the Commonwealth community in Georgia, in which over 80 persons are l)eing fed and maintained in health and vigor at a cost for food of three cents a day each, is itself indisputable evidence of the economy of Vegetarian fare.

CasseW s Saturday Journal, Londou, Eug., publishes an article by Prof. Atwater, who has devoted himself to the study of food a number of years, in which he writes: "It

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will be a shock to many thrifty housewives to leara that beef and eggs are among the greatest of all economical mistakes. A single shilling spent in wheat-flour will yield as much nutriment as thirty shillings spent on sirloin of beef. Sngar ranks next to wheat-flour as an economical food ; for a shilling's worth of sugar contains as much nutriment as six shillings' worth of milk, twelve shillings' worth of eggs, or a pound's worth of oysters. In proportion to their cost, oysters are almost the least nutritious of all foods. Beaua and potatoes run a close race for the the third place among valuable and cheap foods."

In the Logic of Vegetarianism, by Mr. H.S. Salt, it is shown "that the habit of flesh-eating, involving, as it does, the sacrifice of vast tracts of land to the grazing of cattle and the subsequent starving of agriculture, is far too costly to be justified in the face of an extending civilization, un- less by a much clearer proof of its necessity than any which its advocates have essayed . ' '

It is impossible to produce flesh-meat as cheaply as it is to produce vegetable food, because it is from vegetable food that meat is usually produced, and it takes from five to seven pounds of grain and other vegeta- ble food in proportion, to produce one pound of meat. Then, if carefully in- spected, vast quantities of cattle grown for slaughter are condemned as diseased and this immense loss is oidy lessened by dis- honestly putting the condemned cattle into the market in the various forms of preserved meat, which are producing such terrible suffering among the consumers, spreading disease, insanity and premature death throughout our land and our distant army.

The above article composed the sixth number of Our Postscript, which was issued on October loth.

MEAT INSPECTION. The New \ot^ Journal, sometime since, published the sworn statement of a man who had been employed ten years in the packing house of one of Chicago's great firms. The statement was accompanied by the following engraving of the vat into

which the carcasses condemned by the inspectors were thrown, ostensibly to be tried down for soap grease, but as the engraving shows the carcasses were removed through a trap door at the bottom of the vat onto a tram-truck, by which they were conveyed to the packers and canners, so that all the diseased and condemned meat was actually put upon the market and sold to consumers, who innocently believed they were protected by vigilant inspectors. Sometimes while the inspectors were present steam would be turned on, and in the mist produced by the steam, the inspectors could see nothing of this fraud and were glad to escape from the malodorous place, leaving the packers to proceed with their work without detection. The picture was sketched by the man himself and is a part of his sworn statement.

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QUISISANA SANITARIUM

We represent on pages 145 and 160 views of this Sonthem resort for the benefit of those seeking health, especially in the winter months. It is located at Asheville, N. C, and is onder experienced manage- ment. It is called "Quisiaana" because this is the Italian word for "Here you will grow well." It is also called in the ad- vertisements ' ' Physiatric- Dietetic Sanita- rinm," because these words signify the natural cure or cure of disease by leading the patient back to nature or to a natural life and the use of those healing factors which assimilate with our body; air, water, light, proper diet, etc. Diseases usually originate for want of fresh air. proper food, cleanliness, proper clothing and exercise. The system pursued at this establishment includes baths, massage, diet, packs, pours, Swedish movements, etc.

Many acute diseases have been cured at this place by a single pack, one massage treatment or with one Russian bath followed by massage. . Chronic diseases require longer treatment, but become greatly modi- fied in a short time, and if curable, succumb after a regular course under the direction of a skilled German physician. There is also a skilful lady physician, Minna Knepper, M. D., who is admirably adapted for the work in which she is engaged.

The institution was, indeed, founded by Dr. Minna, and she engages the German physician. She was repeatedly requested to establish a Sanitarium and after much searching.sheselected thespot at Asheville, which possesses so many natural attractions as to make it a favorite resort as well as Sanitarium.

The climate, beauty of scenery and charm of country life, combined with urban ad- vantages, render this a place that can be thoroughly enjoyed, especially during our

more northern winters. The fecilities for reaching it by railroad are good. Those who usually spend the winter in California can here get similar advantages without the long journey.

The rates are moderate and can be obtained on application to Miss Lina Knepper, the secretary, to whom we are indebted for much information in regard to the advantages of this locality and the facilities afforded for attaining and retain- ing health.