Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-06-09

Experiments were then made upon
three dogs with biscuits containing only
10 teaspoons of alum baking powder.
The result indicated that some animals
are more liable to yield to the effects OF
poisonous substances than others are
When, on the other hand. three other
dogs were fed with biscuits made with
pure cream of tarter baking powder, no
i'll effects were experinced. They ate and
ate with an evident relish, day after day,
and even whned for more.
1t WIS next necessary to discover what
effect alum has on the solvent power of
the gastric juice. In order to obtain some
pure gastric juice. curious device was
resorted to. DR.. Mott sent several dogs
to Prof. Arnold, medical department of
the university of New York, who in
serted a small metallic tube directly
through the skin and into the stomach of
each one of them. when the dogs were in
a pefectly healthy condition. Prof Ar
mold sent TO DR.. Mott some gastric juice.
which was produced by tickling the lining
of the stomach of the dogs with a feather
or glass rod, which caused the gastric
juice to flow ont of the tube into a recep
tacle placed underneath the dog TO
receive it
DR.. Mott. aided by Prof. Schneider, then
began some experiments with the four
samples of gastric juice. which he had
received from Prof. Arnold, to discover
tho effect of the gastric juice in which
alum had been dissolved upon fibrine,
white, very easily digested substance,
having basis of coaguIated blood. The
fbrine was imperfectly digested, and the
experiments were very important, as
showing that alum can check the diges
ton of so easily digeSted II substance As
fibrine. They Indicate, therefore, how
dangerous it is to introduce these two
salts into our stomachs, if we do not wish
to excite indigestion and dyspepsia. Fur
Their experiments showed that the digestive
power Of the gastric juice is entirely de-
stroyed by alum. so lar as its power Of
dissolving the more indigestible substances,
like the boiled white of au egg is concern
ed.
DR.. Mott then determined to learn
whether alumnia could be found in the
various organs of the body if dog was
fed with hydrate of alumnia. He found II
considerable quantity of The stuff in the
blood, liver, kidneys and heart.
The doctor goes on to describe the diff
ferent symptoms exhibited by these dogs
as they passed through almost every
phase of animal agony until they were
left in complete state of physical pros
tration. To those especially interested in
the details of the subject, the article in the
Scientific american supplement will give
most complete information. and we will
spare the sympathetic reader the account
of the sufferings of these dumb brutes.
DR.. Motifs conclusions, after making
these experiments, are of vital interest to
every one who either makes or eats bread,
and therefore concern all.
"These experiments" said he recently,
while speaking before the American chem
ical society, CLEARLY demonstrate that the
salts left in the biscuit, when a cream of
tartar baking powder is used, are perfect
ly harmless, but when an alum baking
powder is used. are very dangerous, for in
case where dogs were fed on biscuits made
with such powders. the dogs were made
very sick, causing them to vomit profuse.
| ly, lose all energy and show weakness in
their limbs"
1t is a clear and triumphant corrobora-
ton of the assertions of the royal baking
powder company, and entities them to TIE
gratitude and support of the community
they are endeavoring TO protect. As they
claim, and DIR. Mott has shown, bread
made of alan is totally unfit for human or
animal food. lis true. in the bread of
domestic consumption there may not be as
large proportion of baking powders as
was in the bread used by DR.. Mott, and
that accounts for the fact that the symp-
toms in the reader are not so well defined
as they were in the experiments in ques
ton. How many there are Of our imme
diate friends suffering from this evil
scientific vestgation will alone reveal
but many a lingering and suffering invalid,
with no defined idea of his trouble, can
easily trace it to its source by stopping
the use of alum powders, substituting
some brand like the royal baking powder,
whose manufacturers have II competent
chemist in their exclusive employ. who
rigidly analyses every ingredient before
its Incorporation into their powder The
old cry of honesty "being the best policy
may be worn threadhare. but its truth will
hold forever, and while authorizations and
short weights abound. it is pleasure to
see at least one in the trade strenuous,
cndcavoring to give full weights and pure
goods.