Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-01-12

Alum Baking Powders In Go urt
Interesting Testimony OF
Scientific Men.

Within the past two years, a bitter
controversy has been waged between
manufacturers on account of the
use Of alum as cheap substitute for
Cream Of Taltar, by many manufac>
turers of baking powders. The hand
some profits yielded by using the snb-
stitute have induc. d dealers as well as
manufacturers to push them into the
hands OF consumers, sometimes under
definite brands, frequently by weigh.
ing out In bulk without any distipgu.
isnlng name.
Are such powders wholesome? The
Royal Baking Powder Co., who make
Cream Of Tartar baking powder, de-
clared that they are Injurious to the
public health, while Others who make
alum powders claim that they are not.
The whole matter rs to the effects of
these alum powders, has finally been
brought into the courts, and tue case
was tried in the Superior Court Of New
York city before Chief Justice Ssdg-
wick, reported substantially as folio VS.
in the IN. Y. Sum-"
c INCLUSION OF A LITTLE TROUBLE
BETWEEN A CHEMIST AND AN
EDITOR.
The suit of DR.. Henry A. Mott
aga,net Jebtz Burns, has brought to
light the fact that this county pro,
duces at least forty-tHo different kinds
of baking powders. Neither Burns
nor Mot has been found guilty of
making the baking powders, bat
| Burns, who Is the editor of perio IL
Cal called the SPICE Mill, has been Sc
| verely muicted for libel in his ffoIt
| to-make his paper spicy. Or. Mott, II
appears, is chemist, aid at one time
! was employed by the United Sta 90
government to analyzs different speci.
mems of baking powder which had
been recon- 10 ende d for adoption to the
Indian bureau DIR. Mott reported in
favor Of the cream OF tartar baking
pow der for the Indians, aud sgains,
the alum baking powder. The chemist
analysed forty-twO Binds Of baking
powders.
| The jury were out about half an
hour. Then they came in with a ver-
dict awarding DR.. Net $4,000, 10
which the Court made an additional
allowance OF $3.50.
As the public have large interest q
the wholesomeness of whatever 1t i.
called upon to use as food, the following
extracts are introduced from The testi
mony of some of toe prominent men
as to the luxurious effects of alum pow
ders.
DR.. MOTT:
| Q. Were you employed by the u. S
Government?
A. I was, sir; was employed az
chemist, to analyze all the articles o
food; to express an opinion as to tn.
analysis OF their hea!thfulness anC
purity.
| @. Please tell the jury the Baking
Powders that you examined while ir
the employ of the Government.
A. Il would be difficult to remember
| them all; could refer TO my books;
examined twenty Eight powders; was
given sixteen at first.
By the Court:
Give your best recollection.
@. And one of the powders included
was "Dooley's Baking Powder? ?"
A. Yes, sir.
@. And The "Charm ?n
A. Yes. sir; the "ChsIm" and "Pa
tapsco."
Q. Please stst4 In which powder
you found alum?
A. I found alum In Dooley's "Pa.
tapsco, "Cbarm."' Queenn Vienna,
Orient" Amazon, ,"."Lske Side
King" WANTS Lily" Monarch
"One spoon" Regal Imperial.
"6onest, ,""Economical," ""Excesior,'
"Chartres," Grant'sn and "Giant."
| Q, Recurring to the question tha