The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-05-10
Is Alum Poisonous

rs Alum IOlBOnOuSs
DR.. Halls Journal of Health, in re-
cent issue, says:
"This question has caused good deal
of discussion. Alum is used by many
bakers to whiten their bread, enabling
them to use an inferior flour. It is
more extensively employed as a cheap
substitute for cream of tartar in the
manufacture of baking powder. 1t has
not been considered Immediately dam
gerous; although if continued it induces
dyspepsia and obstinate constipation.
But the fact that many cases of poison
ing have occurred from baking powders
which contained alum, puts the ques-
tion in moro serious aspect, and pru-
dent people will exercise caution in the
selection OF baking powder.
"Under what conditions, then, does
this substance-formerly used only for
mechanical or medicinal purposes-be-
come poisonous? They are certainly
obscure, and at present we can only sur
mise what they may be. We suspect
that the cause exists in the individual
poisoned; some popularity of the con-
stitutiQn producing morbid change in
the secretions ofthe stomach, with which
the alum combines and forms an active
poison; or the secretions may be healthy
but IN unusual proportions, and that
these less or greater proportions, in com.
bInatIon with the aluId, constitute a
poison.
"For example. two parts of mercury
and two parts of chlorine form calomel,
which is not poisonous; but change the
20 Of u
two parts of chlorine, and we get corro-
sive sublimate, which is-a deadly pui-
son.
"Then, again, We KNOW nothing of
the causes of constitutional peculiari-
ties. Why is it that one person can eat
all kinds of green fruits and vegetables
with impunity, while the same course
might cost another individual his life
One person can handle poison ivy and
sumac without being III The least affect
ed; another 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 dur
| ing the entire year. Foods that are
wholesome to some persons are actually
| poisonous TO others. This is especially
| true of some kinds of fish. There is ne
| safety in taking alum into the stomach,
| as it is shoWn-to be always Injurious
and often dangerous. Baking powders
properly compounded. and containing
pure cream of tarter instead OF alum. are
more convenient than yeast; and bread
/ and pastry made with them are Just as
| wholesome, and far more palatable.
We are in entire sympathy with the
manufacturers of the Royal Baking
| Powder-who commenced and are Wig
orously conducting the war against the
use of alum in baking powders.
"BefOre committing ourselves, hawev.
er, we made tests of sufficient rUlnber
of baki' powders Ia satisfy ourselves
that the substitution Of alum for cream
of tartar in their composition has no
been ovefestImated, while a careful ex.
animation of the Royal Baking Powder
confirms our belief that DR.. Mott, the
government chemist, when he singled
out and commended this powder for it!
wholesomeness, did it wholly in the in
terests OF the public.
ave do not hesitate to say that thu
Royal Baking Powder people deserve
the gratitude of the community whom
they are endeavoring to protect.
"Will not some prominent manutac
turer of pure candies follow their exam
pie and expose the secrets of business
| that is doing untold mischief 10 LITTLE
children9''