The poisons in our food, or, Guide to health / by a physician.

Date:
1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The poisons in our food, or, Guide to health / by a physician. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    tact with the blood; and to show what a vast quantity of vitiated air may be taken into the lungs during twenty-four hours, it is only neces- sary to state that the lungs may be compared to a sponge, full of a vast number of minute holes or cells; the number is so great that they have been calculated in man to amount to one hundred and seventy-four million. These cells are furnished with a network of bloodvessels, and are of course much more nume- rous in cows from the larger surface of their lungs. It is therefore a matter of paramount importance that the atmosphere, whether inhaled by man or beast, should be pure, and free from any admixture of a deleterious nature. The air of cow-houses is not alone vitiated by the exhalation from the lungs of the cows, but from the improper drainage of their sheds, and from the collections of filth, such as vegetable substances, &c, in a state of decomposition. The poisonous vapors arising from these accumulations are most intolerable. . . In nearly all cities, but more so in this than any in America, you will see persons with old carts going round the streets, for the purpose of collect- ing all the rotten apples, potatoes, peelings ot the same, sour bread, and every other thing disgust- ing to think of, that they can find in the gutters, alleys &c. These substances, in a state ot decom- position, are carried to the cow-houses, mixed up £ith a little genuine food, and given to the cows that arc to supply the public with milk. What a thought this is to one that knows how to appreciate good and healthy milk. But this is not the worst yet; 4