Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-10-13
Is Aium POisOnOu>.

Dr. Halls Journal of Health. is re- cent issue sgs:
 "Ihis question has caused a good deal of discussion. Alum IS used by many bakers to whiten their bread, enabling then to use an inferior flour It k more extensively employed us a cheap substitute for cream of tartar m the manufacture of baking powders. IL has not been considered immediately dangerOur; although fl continued It ln- duces dyspepsia and obstinate constlpa- t. u. Bnt the fact that many cases of poisoning have occurred from baking powders which contained aluD, pats the question ID n more seriuUs aspect, and prudent people will exerclse caution iu the selection of baking powders.
 Under what cOnditi ns, then, does this subs,ance-iOTmerly u-td only for mrcuEnlcal or medicinal purpOse--Oe- c me poisonous! They are certainly obscure, and at present We can only sur mise what they may be We suspect that the cause exists m the person pol soDed; some pe,UiIarity Of the constltu- ton producing IA morbid ch nge ID the secretlOus of tue stomach, with which the alum combines aud forms an active poison; or the srcreiIrns may be healthy but ID unusual proportions. and that these less or grea,.r T proportions. ID con- mnatlon with The alum, constitute pol son.
 For examp.e, two parts Of mercury and two parts of chlorine form caiOmel, winch K not poisonous, but change the proportions tU one part Of mercury and two Pa ts of chlorine, and We Set cor rp>lve su0lImaie, which Is a deadly pol son.
 linen, again We kuow nothing of the causes Ut constitutional pecnliHrities. Why Is lt thst one person can eat all ktuds Of grees fruits aud vegetables ~i h lmplnIty, while the same course uai nt cost anOthrr individual his life! Ole person can handle poison ivy and sumac without being m the least affect ed; another ls poisoned If he approaches tp within ten feet Of the n. Out If a .amliy r, siding in a malarIal district. ~Ome of tue members will suffer hall
 h. y-ac with fever and hgue, while ih, others will enjoy excellent health during the entire ytar. Foods that are whole aOine tO sOrns persons are actually poi ,Onpus to others. This IS especiull,
 rue Oi some kinds of tish. Ibere Is nU safety in taking alum into the stomach, IS lt k shown tO be always injurious, and often dangerous. Baking powderr properly compounded, and containi~l pure cream ut tartar instead of alum, are more convenient than yeast; and bread and pastry made with them art just AS wholesome, and far more paiata Ole. We are lu entire sympathy witt the manufact1r' rs of the Ro, al Bakinl POwder-whO cOmm-nceu and are viz JfOusly conductlnS tue war against the Use of alum ID baking powders.
 Before committing ourselves, however We made tests of sufficient number of paklng powders tO satisfy ourselves that the substitution of alum for cream "t tartar lu their composition has no been Over-estlmBteG, NhIle acareful ex animation of the Royal Baking Powdei confirms our belief that Dr. Mott, tn, Government Chemist, when he singled but snl comm adei this powder for its s'nolesumen,s s' dId It wholly ID the in teres's of the pubic.
 "Ae do not hesitate to say that the Royal Baking Powder people des.rvt he gratitude Uf the community whom ihey eudeavoring to protect.
 "Will not some prom nrnt manufac furer of pure Candies follow their ex ample, aud expose the secrets oi a bu-i Iess tnat IS doing untold mischief tU lit- tie children"