Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-01-16
oN SPECIFICATIONS AND GENERAL ADVERTISER
Is Alum Poisonous.

II vi
DR.! HALL s journal of Health, in a recent IS
sue, says: VI + l. q Fs Ak 4
"This question has caused a good deal of dis
cussion. Alum is used by many bakers TO
whiten their bread, enabling them to use an
inferior -four. 1t is more extensively employ
ed as cheap substitute for cream of tarter in
the manufacture ofbakins powders. 1t has not
been considered Immediately dangerous al
though ifcontinued 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 a more serious aspect, and pru-
dent people'will exercise caution in the selec.
tion Of baking powders. - az
I Under what conditions, then. does this SUBJ
stance-formerly used only for mechanical or
medicinal purposes-become poisonous? They
are certainly obscure. and at present we can
only surmise what they may be. We suspect
that the cause exists In the dividual poison
ed; some'peculiarity OF the constitution pro
ducing a morbid change in the secretions of the
stomach, with which the alum combines and
forms an active poison; or the secretions, may
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 is not
poisonous: but change the proportions to one
part of mercury and two parts of chlorine, and
we get corrosive sublimate, which is deadly
poison.
Then, again. we know nothing Of the causes
of constitutional peculiarities. Why is 1t that
one person can eat all kinds of green fruits and
vegetables with lmpunity, while the same
course might cost another Individual his life?
One person can handle poison ivy and sumac
without being in the least affected; another is
poisoned if he approaches to within ten feet OF
them. Out ola family residing in malarial
i>trict, some of the members will suffer half
the year with fever and ague, while the others
will enjoy excellent health during the entire
year, Foods that are wholesome to some per-
sons are actually poisonous to others. This is
especially true OF some kinds of fish, There Is
no safety in taking alum into the stGmach. as
1t is shown to be always Injurious, and often
dangerous. Baking powders properly COM
pounded, and containing pure cream of tartar
yeast and bread and pastry made with them
are just as wholesome, and far mo ore palatable.
We are in entire sympathy with the manufac-
turers o ( the Royal Baking Powder-who COM
menced and are vigorously conducting the war
against the use of alum in BAKING powders.
before committing ourselves, however we
mads tests of a sufficient number OF baking
powders to satisfy ourselves that the subsutu-
ton of alum for cream of tartar in their com
position has not been over estimated. while q
careful examination of the Royal Baking Pow
der confirms our belief that DR.. Mott, the
Government Chemist when he singled out and
common ded this powder for its wholesomen ess,
did it wholly in the interests of the ppbiic.
"We do not hesitate to say the Royal Baking
community whom they are endeayoring to
protect.
"WilLDot come prominent manufacturer of
pure Candles follow their example, and expose
the secrets of business that is doing untold
mischief to little children ~ 9G5 .4i