Omaha daily bee., 1882-12-14

Ia Alum pJ,sDnou.?

DR.. Halls journal OF Heath, In n
| recent issue Gays:
"This question has caused a great
| deal of discussion, Alum 10 used hg
msny bakers to whiten their bread,
euabling them w use su infceior -four.
It is moie extensively employed ~ u
cheap substitute for cream of tartar in
tho manufacture of baking powders
IL has not even considered immedi,
ately dangerous, although if continued
it induces dyspepsia and obstinate con.
| stipation. But the fact that many
cases of poisoning have occurred from
bakinapowders which contained alum,
puts the question in q more serious So
pect and prudent people will exercise
caution in the selection OF baking pow
ders,
"Under what conditions, then, does
this substance-formerly used only
for mechanical or medicinal purposes
become poisonous. They are Ger.
tainly Obscure, and at present We can
only surmiso what they may be. We
suspect thai the cause exists in the
individual %poisonen; some popularity
of the constitution producer Q n nor
bid change in the secretions of the
stomach, with which the alum com
bines and forms an active poison; or
the secretions may be healthy, but in
unusual proportions, and that these
less or greater proportions, in comb.
nation with the alum, Q institute u
poison.
"For example, two parts Of mer-
curry and two parts of chlorine from
calomel, which is not poisonous; but
change the proportions to ono part of
mercury and two partn of chlor ne,
and we get corrosive sublimate, which
ia a deadly poison.
"Then, again, we know nothing Of
tho causes of constitutional peculiari-
ties. Why is it that one person can
cot all kinds of grean fruits and vege-
tables with IMMUNITY, while the same
course might coGt another individual
his life2 One person can handle poi.
son ivy aud sumac without being in
the least affected; another ia poisoned
il he approaches to within ten feet of
them. Out Of q family residing In y
malarial district. some of the members
will suffer half the year with fever and
sgue, while the others will enjoy ex
cellent health during the entire year
Foods that are wholesome to some
persons are poisonous to others. This
Is especially true Of some kinds
of fish. There is no safety in taking
alum into the stomach, as it is shown
to be always injurious and often dan
gerous. Baking powders, properly
compounded, and containing pure
cream of tartar instead of alum, are
more convenient than yeast. And
bread and pastry made with them are
just as wholesome, and far more pal
atable. We are in entire sympathy
with the manufacturers OF the Royal
Baking Powder-whO commenced and
are vigorously conducting the war
against tho use of alum of baking
powders.
"Before committing ourselves. how
ever, we made testB of a sufficient
number of baking powders 10 satisfy
ourselves that the substitution of
alum for cream of tartar in their com.
position has not been over estimated,
while a careful examination Of the
R,yol Baking Powder conf ms our be-
llIsf that Or. Mott, the government
chemiaf, WHOM he singled out and com.
msndcd this powder for its whole
somcnegs. did IL wholly 10 the inter
esig OF the pubic
HWa do not hesltato 10 say hat the
Royal BAKING Powder people deserge
tho gratitude Of tho community whom
they ara ~endeayoriag to protect,
"Wili not some manufactures 81
pure candies follow their example,
and expose tho secrets Of a busiuff.
that is doing untold mischief to it'll
ohildren2"