The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-06-30

The sss francisco Press Aatfnsiss
me subject Of Impure BnhimE
Powders, the Evil I'm n Hadicnf


the subject Of Impure B.bims
Powders, the EVIL I'm n Hadicni
Form.
From san Francisco Daily Cali
Tho frightful and dangerous adulterstion
pracliced by baking powder manufacturers
Is exciting an increased and widespread
alarm among consumers. The evil has ut.
tanned greater dimensions than the most ex-
treme alarmists could have imagined.
In city like New York government
chemist makes an analytical examination
and discoses the tact that the very large
proportion of powders sold there are made
of alum. The action of alum on the human
stomach is precisely the same
as on the mouth; it draws and
Fuckers it all up, producing
sll sorts of unpleasant and dangerous disor.
ders. In Germany, Ene land and France,
any one fou manufacturing or selling alum
powders IS subject to "a heavy fine aud i'm.
prisonment, but in this state of California
may be found hundreds of brands made of
this poisonous chemical. Pure baking pow
ders should be made of grape cream tartar,
which costs from thirty to forty-fve cents
per poud. Many irresponsible and reck
less manufacturers msk, this important 90
nestle article from alum, which costs but
three cents per pound. The Royal Baking
Powder company Of New York, q wealthy
ind honorable corporation, the larges. con-
80 rcrs of grape cream tartar in the
: I'd, in their efforts 10
u duce their goods on this market were
g fronled by an army of alum powiers,
which were sapping and undermining the
sc 81,
citizen were told that his oft repeated attack
of dyspepsia. constipation, heartburn, etc,
arose from using an impure and poisonous
baking powder, he would probably pass it
| by as ali idle, sensational assertion; yet such
ia the fact
Did any one of our lady readers in her
purchases of domestic supplies, ever notice
that her grocer had nearly always brand of
powders put up under his own name?
If she had an analysis from competent
chemist, il would tell her that in nearly
every case she was being offered poison ia its
most dangerous and suGtle form; not poison
| that quickly kills. for the dose is not large
! enough-but poison that will slowly and
surely undermine the health of her little
ones. The question arises, why do grocers
have their powders put up under their own
name, instead OF having come well
known, pure and reliable brand of powder?
| 1t is simply because their profits is larger
this way. Their powder is made of alum, at
ono eight the cost OF cream tartar powder,
and they are enabled TO sell it 10 composition
with an honest article like the Royal baking
powder, and make an enormous prof..
| Nearly all the powders sold by the grocery
me- of this city, under their own name, are
| made by prominent manufacturers here, and
are composed of alum, and tho only safe
guard housewife has is to buy an honest
cresm-tsrtar powder, made by some respon-
sible manufacturer.
A series of researches in San Francisco, on
the part of Professor Hanks, the state
chemist, shows that out of ten different
private corner-grocery brands selected at
random every one contained alum or other
impurities, and eight were short weight,
some of them thirty five per cent. The
names of these powders are not here given,
for it is scarcely believed that the grocers
we're aware of what they were buying and
having put up under their own names, but
the samples and reports are in the possession
of Mr.. Hanks.
We make the suggestion to every reader
of this Paper 10 consider whether the pitifus
saving arising from the purchase of a cheap
baking powder compensates for the loss OF
health incurred. After the repeated warn
ings of science, any mother VINO continues
the use of these poisonous npounds, does
so with fearful penalty hanging over her
head. Go ask your doctor if alum baking
powders are dangerous, and be guided by his
advice.
In the esst, where this subject is exciting
great interest, Dr. Halls journal of Health
says in a recent issue:
"Before committing ourselves, however,
we made tests of a sufficient number of bsk'
ing powders to satisfy ourselves that the
substitution of alum for cream of tartar IN
their composition has not been overesti-
mated, while careful examination Of the
Royal baking powder confirms our belief
that DR.. Mott, the government chemist,
when he singled out and recommended this
powder for its who esomeDess, did IT wholly
10 the interest of the public. We do not
hesitate to say that the Royal baking pow
der people deserve the gratitude of the COM
munity whom they are endeavoring 10
protect"