The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-22
coHpHnNEp.
Alum RaktnE Powders In Court-Inter'
esting Testimony OfSeientiac zen.
Hev York Timss

A1Etul G4EN gA hlIg4uN VI AAAV A7G VI 1AhAA - I
cheap substitute for Cream Of Tartar, by |
many manufacturers OF baking powders.
The handsome profit yielded by using the
substitute have induced dealers as well as |
manufacturers 10 push them into the hands |
Of consumers, sometimes under definite
brands, frequently by weighing out in
bulk without any distinguishing name.
Are such powders wholesome? The
Royal Baking Powder Co., who make
Cream OF Tartar baking powder, declared
that they are iDjuriousto the publichea
while others who mako alum powders claim
that they arc not. The whole matter as to
the effects OF these alum powders, hRs
finally been brought into the courts and
the case was tried in the Superior Court
Of New York city before Chief.J ustice Sedg.
wick, reported substantially as follows in
the New York Sun:
CONCLUSION OF. LITTLE TROUBLE BETWEEN
CHEMIST AND AN RBlToR.
The apt OF DR.. Henry A. Mott sgainst
Jabez Burns, has brought to light the fact
that this country produces at least forty.
two different kinds OF baking powders.
Neither Burns nor Mott has been found
guilty OF making the baking powders, but
Burns, who is the editor OF periodical
called the Spice MIL, has been severely
mulcted for libel in his efforts to make his
paper spicy. DR.. Mott, 1t appears, is a
chemist, aud at one time was employed
by the United States Government 10 an
aiyze different specimens OF baking pow
der which had been recommended for
adoption to the Indian Bureau. Dr.. Mott
reported in favor Of the cream OF tartar
baking powders for the Indians, and
against tho alum baking powders. The
chemist analysed torty.two kinds OF bak-
ing powders.
The Jury were out about half an hour.
Then they came In with q verdict award.
ing DR.. Mott 5000, to which the Court
made an additional allowance oil Sl50."
As the public have large interest in
the wholesomeness OF whatever tits called
upon TO use as food, the following extracts
are introduced from the testimony Of some
of the prominent men as to the injurious
effects OF alum powders:
DR.. MoTr:
Q. We're you employed by the U. S.
Government?
a. was, sir; was employed as chemist,
TO analyzs all the articles OF food; to ex.
press an opinion as to the analysis OF their
healthlulness and purity.
Q Please tell the jury the Baking Pow.
ders that Won examined while in the EN-.
ploy OF the Government?
a. 1t would be difficult to remember
them all; could refer to my books; | ex-
amined twenty-eight powders; was given
sixteen at first.
BY The Court:
Give your best recollection.
Q. And one Of the powders included
was "Dooley's Baking Pow der?"
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And the "CharmP"
A. Yes, sir; the "Oharm" and "Pataps.
CO."
Q. Please state in which powders you
A. l found slum in Dooley's, "Pataps.
CO." "Cbarm," Queen" Vienna" "or-
lent" Amazon" Lake Side" Twin
Sisters" "Superiativs," King" "Whtte
Lily" Monarch" Zone SPOON" ere.
gal" "Imperial," Honest" 'Eeonomi.
cal. Excellent" "Chartres," Grants"
and "Giant."
@. Recurring to the question that hos
been asked you upon this suit-the result
OF these examinations which you have
made-is it your opinion that alum in
these various compounds, in Baking Pow.
ders such as you have examined, Is injur.
ious?
A. It is my opinion, based upon actual
experiments on living animals.
CHARLES F. CHANDLER, called on behalf
OF the plaintiff, being duly sworn,
testified as follows:
Q DR.. Chandler, you reside in the city
OF New York?
A. do.
O., Your business is that OF o chemist?
A. II is.
Q You are and have been Professor Of
Chemistry in several colleges?
A. have.
@. Please state how long that employ
ment OF yourself has been, aud with what
colleges you are now connected?
A. am at present Professor OF Chem
istry in the Academic Department Of
Columbia College; the School OF Mines,
Columbia College, the New York College
Of Physicians and Surgeons, and the New
York College OF Pharmacy.
Q. You are President, also, Of the Board
OF Health, are you not?
A. am.
Q, In your various emploYments, have
you had frequent occasion to examine the
question OF the wholesomeneSs Of food,
aud the beneficial or injurious effects Of
its ingredients?
A. have.
@. will ask you in regard to the use OF
alum with soda, in baking powder,
whether or not it is neutralized-is there
az injurious constituent eialum left?
A. There is an injurious constituent left
after the mixture Of alum and bicarbonate
OF soda.
B. Without using any nicely OF chemi'
cal terms, what is your opinion about the
use OF alum in baking powder, IN combina.
ton with bicarbonSte soda and other in
gradients, for raising bread-whether in
jurous or not?
A. think ii Is dangerous to the digestive
organs, and liable TO produce serious dis
turbance OF the liver OF individuals max
ing use Of such powders.
HENRY MORTON, President Of "Steyens
Institute" called in behalf OF the
plaintiff, being duly sworn, testified as
follows:
@. You are President Of Stevens Insti.
tute?
A. am.
Q. And have for many years been q
chemist?
A. have.
@. Have you had occasion to examine
the substances which are used in the com.
position Of Baking Powders?
A. have.
Did you, some time ago, examines sam.
pie of Dooley's Baking Powder?
A. did.
q. Is that it, sir2 Handing canl.
A. Yes, sir; that is it.
Q. Well, what kind Of alum did it con.
tain7
a. 1t contained potash alum.
Q. Did you make any extract Of that
alum, to SHOW the kindP
A. did; extracted large quantity Of
It as potash alum, and 1t Is In that bottle