Note 11 — ADVICE TO THE PEOPLE,

(1, 2) The Abuse just mentioned can scarcely be intended to forbid the moderate Use of good Pastry, the Dough of which is well raised and well baked, the Flower and other Ingredients sound, and the Paste not overcharged with Butter, even though it were sweet and fresh. But the Abuse of Alum and other pernicious Materials introduced by our Bakers, may too justly be considered as one horrible Source of those Diseases of Children, &c. which our humane and judicious Author mentions here. What he adds, concerning the Pastries being rendered still more unwholesome by the sour Fruits sometimes baked in it, is true with Respect to those Children and others, who are liable to Complaints from Acidities abounding in the Bowels; and for all those who are ricketty or scrophulous, from a cold and viscid State of their Humours. But as to healthy sanguine Children, who are advanced and lively, and others of a sanguine or bilious Temperament, we are not to suppose a moderate Variety of this Food injurious to them; when we consider, that the Sharpness and Crudity of the Fruit is considerably corrected by the long Application of Fire; and that they are the Produce of Summer, when bilious Diseases are most frequent. This suggests however no bad Hint against making them immoderately sweet. K.