, 1881-07-09
co ASK YoCR DOCTOR

NEW iOhh, apiA 10, 1917
In view Of the fact that alum is so power.
fui poison that less than fifteen grains has
been known to kill an infant-and consider
ing tn. bread is really the staff Of life
not only the food OF the healthy, but almost
exclusively of the sick and of the infant
1t is my opinion, after careful and thorough
investigation, that every precautiOn tat
science and law can combine against its use
should be universally adopted.
HENRY A MoTr, Jr.. Ph. ID. f. NJ
Member American Chemical Society, Mem
her Chemical Society, Member New York
Academy OF Sciences, Member American
Association for Advancement of Sclences,
eic. etc.
OPINION OF THE STATE AssaYER OF MASS:
State Assayer's Office and Laboratory,
No. 1, State Street,
Boston, March 22, 1879 J
In my Judgment, the substitu ION OF alum
for cream of tartar in baking powders rem
ders such powders injurious to health If used
IN food.
When baking powders containing alum are
cooked with Hour, alum salts are toand,
which | believe to be quite as delrterious as
unchanged alum Itself.
s. Dana HAYES
State Assayer. Massachusetts.
Professor OF Chemistry, Yale c, llege, says:
THE MANUFACTURES OUGHT To BE INDICTED.
March 2l, 1879.
Alum and soluble alumina salts are well
known 10 be poisonous, which IN small doses
derarge the digestive organs and IN large
quantities destroy life. l regard their intro
iucIiOn into baking powder as most danger
Gus TO the pntlic health. | am decidedly
Of the opinion that the manufacture and sale
of such baking powders ought to be inter
dicted, with heavy penalties.
S. W. JOHNSTON.
Professor of Theoretical and Agricultural
Chemistry, Yaie College, Director Of the
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Sta
tion, New Haven, Conn.
Professor Baker, University OF Pennsyl-
vania, says:
PHILADELPHIA. March 2Sth, 1879
Because of the stringent and irritating ae-
tion which alum and other solubl, sal S Of
alumina may exert upon the tissues with
which they are brought in contact, | am
clearly of the opinion that the use of these
substances In articles Of food should be
5 rougly condemned.
Ii the use by bakers OF small quantities
Of alum to improve the appearance Of their
bread be regarded as highly culpable, how
much more severely should We reprobate the
use OF much larger amounts of this substance
needed In baking powder: Nor is the case
altered materially by the fact that in Use
of the soda OF the baking powder decompos-
es the alum. All OF its constituents remain
IN the bread, and the alum is itself repro
duced to all intents and purposes when this
bread is dissolved by the gastric juice in the
process of digestion. l regard the use OF
alum baking powders, Therefore, as highly
injurious to the health OF the community,
and believe that their sale should be forbid
den by law. GEORGE +. BARKER
The opinions of eminent authorities who
have united Ia deploring this evil might be
multiplied indefinitely. but the FORGING are
probably the most standard authori' les in
the United States, and their opinion are but
a repetition of what others would saw.
In the east. where this subj-ct is exciting
great interest, DIR. Halls Journal Of Heath
says, in recent issue:
"Before committing ourselves, however,
We made tests Of a sufficient number OF LAX
ing powders to satisfy ourselves that the sub
stitution of alum for cream of tartar In their
composition has not been over-estImated
while a careful examination OF the Royal
Baking powder confirms our belief that DR.
Mott, government chemist. when he singled
out and commended this powder for its
wholesomeness, did it wholly in the interest
OF the public.
ave do not hesitate to say that the ROYAL
Baking Powder people deserve the gratitude
of the community whom they are endeavor-
ing. TO protect.
VIII not some prominent manufacturer OF
pure candies follow Their example and ex-
pose the secrets of a business that Is dom.
untold mischief to little children,
Blow is gwen list of a few prominent
powders containing alum. The many hun
dred
PRIVATE GROCERY BRANDS
Are not given.
COMMON USE OF ALUM.
DIR. M9tt reports as follows:
DEAR SIR,-In accordance with YOUR re-
quest, hereby embody the results OF the
analysis OF baking powders procured during
the pas; three months, in all OF which alum
was used as an ingredient:
Donnolly & Cos. Contains alum
premium yeast powder, San Francisco
Champagne ue-..-........C Contains alum
u. 5. Taylor ( Co., San Francisco
Doolsy Contains alum
iDooley & Bros, New York
PatapSco- Contains alum
(Smith, HAnWay & Co, Baltimore, Nd
Giilett's. Contains alum
tGi.lett, Mccullough Co., Chicago.l
King Contains alum
Charm. ................. Contains alum
iRonrer, Christian & Co., St Louis
Andrew S Regal l....... Contain alum
&C. E Andrews Co, Milwaukee,
Queen Con airs alum
Bennett L Sloan, New Haven, Connl
We. .na. Contains alum
Church & Co, New York CiIy.l
Orient. -...--.......-... Contains alum
Grouse, Walworth & Co., Syracuse, n. W
Amazon ..--.--.- Contains alum
tErkine & Erskine. Louisville; Ky.l
Twin Sisters Contains alum
Union Chemical Works, Chicago,
Imperial ......C Contains alum
iSprsgue, Warner Il Griswold, Chicsgo.)
Economical. ............ Contains alum
Spencer Bros. L Co., ChicagoI
Excelsior or..... Contains alum
l. T. Taylor, Chicago
Chartres. es.........-...-.C Con aims alum
(Thompson & Taylor, Chicagol
Giant .Conta;ns alum
W.F. Mclaughlin. Chicsgo.l
Queen Contains Alum
lS,ar Chemical Works, Chicago.)
Sibley, Dudly & Co. s-...... Contains alum