The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-12-21
Is Alum Poisonous?

DR. HALLS Journal of Health, in recent
issue, saws: "This question has caused
good deal of discussion. Alum is used by
many bakers to whiten their bread, ena-
bling them to use an inferior flour. 1t is
more extensively employed as cheap SUD
stitute for cream of tartar in the manuiac-
ture of baking powders, IL mas S mos peen
although if continued it induces dyspepsia
and obstinate constipation. But the fact
that many cases of poisoning have occurred
from baking powders which contained
alum, puts the question in more serious
aspect, and prudent people will exercise
caution the selection OF BAKING PoWuers.
"Under what conditions, then, does TINS
ubstance-formerly used only for mechani-
cal or medicinal urposes-become poison
onsP They are certainly obscure, and at
present we can only surmise what they may
be. We suspect that the cause exists In the
individual poisoned; some peculiarity OF
the constitution producing morbid change
in the secretions of the stomach, with
which the alum combines and forms an
active poison; or the secretions may De
healthy but in unusual propornohs, anu
that these less or greater proportions, In
com bination with the alum, constitute
poison.
"For example, two parts of mercury and
Two parts of chlorine form calomel, which
il not poisonous; but change the proper
tions 10 one part Of mercury and two parts
of chlorine, and we get corrosive supiimate,
which is deadly poison.
aThen, again, we know nothing OF the
causes of unconstitutional peculiarities. Why
is il that one person can eat all KINDS Oh
green fruits and vegetables with impunity,
while the same course might cost another
Individual his life2 One person can handle
noisou ivy aud sumac without being IN the
least affected; another is poisoned II ne az.
proaches to within ten feet OF them: Out
OF family residing in a malarlal dlstrict,
year with fever and ague, while the others
will enjoy excellent health during the en-
tire wear. Foods that are wholesome TO
some persons are actually poisonous 70 otn-
ers. This is especially true OF some KINDS
Of fish. THERE'S no safety in taking alum
into the stomach, as 1t is shown TO De al
WAYS injurious, and often DANGER
Gus. Baking powders properly cr oo
Of tartar instead Of alum, are more
convenient than yeast; and bread and
pastery made with them are Just as whole
some. an far more palatable. We are IN
entire sympathy with the Manufacturers OF
The ROYAL Baking Powdcr-who commenced
and are vigorously conducting the war
against the use OF alum IN BAKING poNueIs'
before committing ourselves, however,
M made tests Of sufficient number OF
hsking povders 70 satisfy ourselves that
the subsfitution Of alum for cream OF tartar
M their mpositions has not been over,
estimated, While a careful examination OF
The ROYAL Baking Powder confirms our
belief that DR.. Mott, the government cnein,
isf. when be singled out and commenced
this powder for lie wholesomeness' olu II
wholly IN the interests 81 tne PUBIC. a..
ROYAL Baking Powder people deserve TIE
grstifude Of the community whom they
Are eDdeavoring 70 protect
Twill NOT some prominent manuiectuIeII
of rIure candies follow their example, ana
err,ose the secrets OF business tnat y 10
inf untold mischief 70 little Children