The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-05-26
1s Alum POisonous?.

DR.. Halls Journal Of Health, in a
recent issue, says:
This question has caused a good
deal of discussion. Alum is used by
many bakers to whiten their bread
enabling them to use an inferior
-four. It is more extensively en-
ployed as cheap substitute for
cream of tartar in the manufacture of
baking powders. It has not been
considered Immediately dangerous;
although if continued it induces dys-
pepsia and obstinate constipation.
But the fact that many cases of
poisoning have occurred from baking
powders which contained alum, butts
the question in q more serious aspect,
and prudent people will exercise eau
ton in the selection of baking
powders.
Under what conditions, then.
does this substance-formerly used
only for mechanical or medicinal
purposes-become poisonous? They
are certainly obscure, and at present
we can only surmise what they NAV
be. We suspect that the cause exists
in the individual poisoned; some
popularity of the constitution pro-
ducing morbid change in the
secretions of the stomach, with
which the alum combines and forms
an active poison; or the secretions
may be healthy but in unusual pro-
portions, and that these less or great
er proportions, in combination with
the alum, constitute a poison.
For example, two parts of mer-
curry 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 peculiar
tiles. Why is it that one person can
eat all kinds Of green fruits and vege-
tables with impunity, while the
same course might cost another indi-
vidual his lite? One person can
handle poison ivy and sumac with
out being in the least affected: an
other is poisoned if he approaches to
within ten feet of them. Out of a
family residing in a malarial district,
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 persons are |
poisonous to others. This is
true of some kinds of fish.
There is no safety iii taking alum
INTO the stomach, as it is shown to be
always injurious, and often danger
'us. Baking powders properly COM
pounded, and containing pure cream
If tartar instead of alum, are more
convenient than yeast; and bread
md pastry made with them are just
ls wholesome, and far more pala-
able. We are in entire sympathy
With the manufacturers of the Royal
Baking Powder-who commenced
nd are still vigorously conducting
he war against the use of alum in
'aking powders.
"BefOre committing ourselves,
however, we made tests OF sufficient
lumber of baking powders to satisfy
urselves that the substitution of
lum for cream of tartar in their CON-
osition has not been over-estimated,
7hile q careful examination of the
loyal Baking Powder confirms our
elief that DR.. Mott, the Govern
lent Chemist, when he singled out
nd commended this powder for its
'holesomeness, did it wholly in the
1terests of the public.
1--WE do not hesitate to say that the
'oyal Baking Powder people deserve
le gratitude of the community
'hom they are endeavoring to pro-
ct.
"Will not some prominent manu-
lcturer of pure Candies follow their :
and expose the secrets of a [
lsiness that is doing untold mis-. {
lief to little children?' {