Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-03
CONDEMNED.
Aluus Baking Powders in Court
Interesting Testimony of Scientific
Wen.

Within the past two years bitter eontro-
versy has been waged between manufactur-
ers, on account of the use of alum as cheap
substitute for Cream of Tartar, by many
manufacturers of baking powdess. The
handsome profits yielded by using the sub
stitute have induced dealers as well as manu-
facturers TO push them into the hands of
consumers, sometimes under definite brands,
frequently by Weighing out In bulk without
any distinguishing name.
Are such powders wholesomey The ROYAL
Baking Powder Co. who make Cream of
Tartar baking powder, declared that they
are 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 finally
been brought into the courts, and the case
was tried IL the Superior Court of New
York city before Chief Justice Sedgwick,
reported substantially as follows In the New
York Sun:
CONCLUSION or LITTLE TROUBLE Be
TWEEN A CHEMIST AND AN EDITOR.
The suit OF DR.. 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.
guilty of making the baking powders, but
Burns, who Is the editor of periodical
called the Spice Mn, has been severely
indicted for libel In his efforts "a, make his
paper spicy. Dr.. Mott, it appears, Is q
chemiet, and at one time was employed by
the United States Government to analrze
different specimens Of baking powder which
had been recommended for adoption to the
Indian Bureau. DR.. Mott reported in favor
of the cream tartar baking powders for the
Indians. and against the alum baking DOW
ders. The chemist analyzed fortV-two
kinds of baking powders.
The jury were out about half an hour.
Then they came In with verdict awarding
DR.. Mott s., 900, to which the Court made
an additional allowance OF $780,
As the public have large interest In the
wholesomeness of whatever 1t 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
fects Of alum powders.
DR.. Mort:
Q, Were you employed by the U. s. Gov
ernment!
A. was, sir; was employed as chemist,
to analyze all the articles of food; to express
an opinion as to the analysis OF their health
fulness and purity.
@. Please tell the jury the Baking Pow
ders that you 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.
BIZ the Court;
Give your best recollection.
@. Aud one Of the powders included was
"Dooley's Baking Powder ~
A. Yes, sir.
@. And the "Cbarm ?''
A. Yes, sir; the "Charm" aud spa
q. The Baking Powder made by G. E.
Andrews, of Mflwaukee-did you analyze
Q. Please state in which powders you
found alumi
A. l found alum in Dooley's, ''Patapsco,'
"Charm," "Vienna, /" "Orient, - "Amazon,"
''Lake Side, "''Twin Sisters. 4" Superlative,"
"King." "White Lily" Monarch" "Oae
SPOON "Regal," Imperial" "Houest,"
"Econosaical." Excelsior" "Chartres,"
"Grant'e, =" "Giant," and the "Queen."
@. Now, these powders mentioned In
your communication In the Scientific Anaeri-
can-''Dooley's." STANDARD" "Patapsco,"
"Charm' '-Baklng Powder manufactured
by G. E Andrews, of Milwaukee, you stated
you found burnt alum; II you will please
name the respective powder that you have
DObdcn VI duluOQlh
you found?
A. Ia the ''Patapsco,o "Charm,n and
In the Andrews, 1t was ammonia alum.
Q. What is the gas usually furnished, by
Baking PSkdersG
A. The object of Baking Powders is to
furnish carbonic acid gas.
z. WIN you state to me again what other
gas beside carbonic acid gas is proper to
be evolved from q baking powder?
A A linlitpd amount Of oO1Eunnfa
Q Inotice in your article that you say
starch is proper ingredient to put in q
baking powder?
A. Starch is a proper ingredient to pre-
vent the decomposition of baking powders.
Q. Recurring to the question that has
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 Powders,
such as you have examined, is Injurious?
A. 1t 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.
@. Your business is that of chemist
A. 1t is.
O. You are and have been Professor of
Chemistry in several colleges2
A. l have.
@. Please state how long that employ
ment of yourself has been, and with what
colleges you are now connected
A. am at present Professor of Chemistry
in the Academic Department of Columbia
College; the School of Mines, Columbia
College; the New York College of Phy-
sicians 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, and
the beneficial or Injurious effects Of its in
gradients
A. I HAYS.
Q. viii ask you In regard to the use Of
alum with soda, In a baking powder,
whether or not it is neutralized-fs there any
Injurious constituent of alum left?
A. There is an Injurious constituent left
after the mixture Of alum and bi-carbonate
of soda.
Q. Without using any nicely of chemical
terms, what is your opinion about the use of
ammonia alum In baking powder, in COM
bination with bi-carbonste soda and other in
gradients, for raising bread-Whether iniu-
riOus or n0ig
A. think It Is dangerous to the digestive
organs. and liable to produce serious dts
turbance Of the liver Of the individual max
ing use of such powders.
HENRY MORTON, President of "Stevens In
stItute,n called in behalf of the plaintiff,
heing duly sworn, testified as follows:
@. You are President of the Stevens In.
stituteg
A. am.
Q. And have for many years been chem
istf @&
A. / have.
@. Have You had occasion to examine the
substances which are used in the compost
ton Of Baking Powderss
A. have.
@. Did you, some time ago, examine a
sample OF Dooley's Baking Powder
A. did.