The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-12-23
CONDEMNED.
ALUM BAKING POWDERS IN COuRT-INTREsT-
ING TESTIMONY or SCIENTIFIC MEN.
New York Times

ING TESTIMONY OF SCIENTIFIC MEN.
New York Times
Within the past two years a bitter con-
troversy has been waged between manu-
facturers, on account of the use of alum as
achcap substitute for cream of tartar, by
many manufacturers of baking powders.
The handsome profits yielded by using the
substitute have induced dealers as well as
manufacturers to push them into the hands
Of consumers, sometimes under definite
brands, frequently by weighing out in bulk
without any distinguished name.
Are suchpowders whoesome2 The Royal
Baking Powder Co., who make cream of
tartar baking powder, declared that they
arc injurious to the public health, while
Others who make alum powders claim that
they are not. The whole matter as to the
effects of these alum powders, has f1ally
been brought into the courts and the case
was tried in the Superior Court Of New
York city before Chiet.Justice Sedgwick,
reported substantially as follows in the IN.
Y. YSun"
CONCLUSIONS or A LITTLE TROUBLE he.
TWEEN A CHEMIsT AND AN EDITOR.
The suit of DIR. Henry A. Mott against
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 ofmaking the baking powders, but
Burns, who is the editor Of periodical
called the Spice Mill, has been severely
mulcted for libel in his efforts to make
his paper spicy. Dr. Mott, it appears, is a
chemist, and at one time was employed by
the United States government to analyze
different specimens Of baking powder
which had been recommended for adoption
| to the Indian Bureau. DR.. Mott reported
in favor of the cream Of tartar baking pow
ders for the Indians, and against the alum
baking powders. The chemist analysed
forty-two kinds of baking powders.
The jury were out about half an hour.
Then they came in with verdict awarding
DR.. Mott $4,000, to which the court made
an additional allowance Of $3.50"
AS the public have large interest in the
wholesomeness of whatever it is called upon
to use as food, the following extracts are
introduced from the testimony of some OF
the prominent men as to the injurious eff
tects of alum powders.
DIR. MOTT
Q. Were you employed by the U. S
government
A. was, sir; was employed as chemist
to anslyze all the articles of food, to ex
press an opinion as to the analysis of thei
healthfulness and purity.
| @. Please tell the jury the baking pow
ders that you examined while in the EN-
plOy or the governments
A. 1t would be difficult to remembe
them all could refer to my books; ex
amined twenty-eight powders; was givel
sixteen at first
BY THE COURT;
Give your best recollection.
@. Andone OF the powders included wa
"Doolcy's Baking Powder9"
A. Yes, sir.
O. And the "Charm9'
A. Yes, sir; the Charm and "Patap
SEQ"
Q. Please state in which powders yol
found alum?
A. found alum in Dooley's, "Patap
sco," Charm Queen" "Vienna," "0ri
ent," Amazon" "Lake Sldc," "Twln Sis
tcrs," "Superlative," king" "Whit
Lily" Monarch" zone Spoon" "Regal,
"Imperial," "lIonest,' Economical" sex
cesior," Charities, "Grant's," Giant"
| @. Recurring to the question that ha
been asked you upon this suit-the rcsul
of these examinations which you have
made-is it your opinion that alum IN thes,
various compounds, in baking powders
such as you have examined, IS injurious2
A. 1t is my opinion, based upon actua
experiments on living animals.
CHARLES r. CHANDLER,
called on behalf of the plaintiff, being
duly sworn, testified as follows;
@. DR.. Chandler, you reside in the city o.
New York;
A. do.
@. Your business is tina! of chemist'
A. It is.
@. You are and have been professor O
chemistry in several colleges
A. | have.
@. Please state how long that EN-
ployment of yourself has been, and will
what colleges you are now connectedl
A. am at present professor Of chem