The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-03-13

phate OF alumina. When used in baking |
powder, the alum forms third salt, hyd-
rate of alumina is far more easily soluble |
than the other two; hence any objection
that may exist as to the use of alum alone
in bread applies with greater force to its
use in baking powder This fact can be
proven by the following named authori
ties:
Parke is the leader of the new school of
hygiene in England. In his Treatise on
Hygiene" he says:
Looking then to the positive evidence,
and the reasonableness of that evidence,
it seems to me extremely likely that strong
ly alumed bread does produce the injurious
effects, and as he previously states, are in
digestion, gripping, constipation, and kind
red troubles resulting form irritation of the
mucous membrane, produced by the as
tringent properties Of alum.
Persons who have not strong constitu
tons, growing girls. young children, and
nursing mothers. are particularly liable to
the evil effects produced by this use Of
alum Heartburn and the prevalent forms
| of Indigestion are often solely traceable to
the action Of alum on the delicate coats of
the stomach.
To make sure of knowing the action of
alum, the Evening Posts representative
obtained the following expressions of opin-
ion as to its effect when used in baking
powder from some physicians of New York
of the highest reputation and ability:
DR.. William A. Hammond, formerly
Surgeon General United States, of 43
West Fifty-fourth street expressed him
self as perfectly certain of the injurious
laft ~ nh n
whiten bread, or as an adulterant of bak-
ing powder. Abiding to the claim ad,
vanced that the alum was neutralized and
changed into an insoluble salt,he said that
this was a wholly improbable assumption,
since such perfect change could not take
place unless the amount OF the alum ana
the bicarbonate of soda were combined IN
the exact chemical ratio necessary for each
to absorb all of the other. Not only was
this impossible in the manufacture of large
Quantities of baking powder, but the hom-
logeneous character of the compound could
not be exactly maintained throughout the
whole mass, and therefore there would be
sure to be a certain amount of free alum
| in auy bread made with an alum baking
powder. But even if the exact proper
ton were maintained, the salts formed
4
they would be dissolved in the gastric juice.
The gastric juice contained not only Tactic
acid, but large amount of hydro-chlOrlc
acid, and both the sulphate and hydrate
of alumina would be dissolved. Thephos
phate might not be, but in that case the
bread would be deprived Of one of its most
desirable ingredients, making the use OF
alum not only dangerous to the stomach
, but deteriorating to the food,
The hydrate of alumina," DR.. Ham
mond said, would certainly be injurious
to the mucous membrane. 1t would inc
vitality tend to constipate the bowels anC
interfere with digestion; and anything tha
!, tends to render the albumen of the breaC
insoluble, and therefore takes awey from
) its nutritive value, is injurious,
DR.. Willard Parker, said that if alum
was substituted for cream Of tartar in bak
ing powder, in his opinion such powder
would be injurious to health.
Il DR.. AlfonzO Clark considers that alum
has its uses, but should not be iguorantiI
taken into the stomach ID food, 4 sub
, stance which can derange the stomach
and in certain cases produce vomiting
should not be tolerated in baking powder
: DR.. LIE Grand n Densow of 225 IVES
+ Twenty-third street, gave the following a
: his opinion on this subject.
Bread containing the salts of alum, which
are freely soluble in the gastric juice, i
y undoubtedly prejudicial 10 health, the salt
/, acting as irritants to the stomach.
Other great authorities, such as Car
: penter, Thompson, Gibbon, and Norman
: dy, all agree that the continued use @
. bread containing alum will bring abou
6 dyspepsia and other troubles
. DR. Sayre, former President Of the Board G
;. Health. said to one of the representative
> Of the New York Press;
. After the experiments in this line b
Lidbig and other distinguished chemist:
-, and vivisectors with alum on eats. dog
other animals, with the published result:
= we may we'll ask what is the use Of sue
:. experiments if We do not apply them t
, practice 10 the preservation OF human lii
= and health? The Board of Health shout
Il see to this.
a DR.. Waller, chemist for the New Yor
e Concluded on next pege)
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