FoodNet

A practical cook and text book for general use

1896

Page 72

Presented as published in 1896. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
The time saved in thus banishing fancy dishes and other unnecessary preparations by those housewives who- do their own work would, if properly utilized, give thenv a liberal education in any chosen direction, and prepare them and their children for the coming woman's era, which is yet in its inception. Upon the education and ability of every housewife to properly prepare food, or superintend its preparation, depends the health of the family. The vexed servant question will remain an unsolved problem so long as the housewife is at the mercy of an irresponsible cook. The latter is often provided with the choicest materials, a large quantity of which is wasted, the best portions often badly cooked and smoth- ered with seasonings. The result is manifest in the improperly nourished bodies of children and in the failing health of other members of the household. Feeling the need without recognizing the cause, some substitute stim- ulation for nourishment, and at attractive bars and lunch counters seek outside the home, to satisfy the craving which is simply the demand of nature for nutrition. Not only this, but we shall be surrounded by undesirable and vicious social and physical conditions so long as the food for humanity is manipulated by the prevailing type of kitchen queen. The future cook will be an educated person, imparting dignity to a vocation which will be considered as respect- able as it is responsible. Her office will be quite as exalted as though she were engaged in law, politics, art, music or the ministry. And why not, when we realize the fact that she occupies the most responsible position in our homes, and that upon the food she prepares depends . the " weal or woe" of homes and nations ? Our physical,. «8o THE FAT OF THE LAND. moral and social health is dependent upon what we eat, and if we learn to live more in l^rmony with hygienic we shall become our own health- pre servers instead lealth-destroyers. Health, strength, fine complexions jcent of poisonous cosmetics, and plump, rosy-cheeked dren will then be quite the fashion, and "nerves" ■ering upon the outside will be duly clothed with itantial flesh. Part 111. MILK AND THE COW. 183 CHAPTER XIV. MILK AND THE COW. Milk is the natural food of all classes of mammalia until the development of teeth ; then more solid food is required, that bones, teeth, nery^es and muscle may become strong and well developed. Animal mothers find no difficulty in furnishing an abundant supply of the lacteal fluid for their young. The lack of this quality in many human mothers during the present century shows that something is entirely wrong in the existing conditions surrounding the human infant population. Cow's milk being unlike human milk in some respects, was evidently intended by nature for the offspring of the cow, and no other. And yet statistics inform us that Great Britain consumes 250,000,000 gallons a year, which costs ;^i 7,000,000 or $85,000,000. The United States consume 5,000,000,000 gallons a year. Many people insist that they have pure milk simply because they have an honest milkman. But the contamination of milk is often produced by causes over which the milk seller has no control. Various foreign additions enter the milk through the dirt and dust from the cow and the barn, through the friction of milking, the dusty clothing of the milker and water used for cleaning dairy utensils. Add 184 THE FAT OF THE LAND. to these the food and drink of the cows and their possible diseased condition, how can we expect pure milk ? Its contamination in various ways has been proven beyond question. That its use contributes largely to the causes of illness and death is no longer disputed. An article on " Bacteria in the Dairy," by A. E. Love- land and W. S. Watson, in the Seventh Annual Report of the Storr's Experiment Station, Connecticut, says :