The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1884-04-24
rs ALUM POISONOUS.

DR.. Halls Journal OF Health, IN recent
Issue, says:
"This question has cauted good deal oil
discussion. Alum is used oy many bakers
| to wh!ten their bread, enabling them 10 use
an inferior flour. IL is more extensively
employed az cheap substitute Tor cream
OF tartar in the manufacture OF baking pow
ders. L. has not heen considered immedi'
aitly dangerous: although IL continued u
induces dyspepsia aud obstinate constipa.
ton. But the fact that many cases OF pol
soning have occurred from baking powders
which contained alum, puts the question IN
more serious aspect, and prudent people
will exercise caution In the selection OF bat.
ing powderH.
"Under Whist conditions, then. does this
suostgnce-iormerly used only for mt
chsnical 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 individual poisoned; some peculi-
arity OF the constitution producing morbid
change IN the secretioDs OF the stomach,
with which the alum combines and ( rms
an active poison, or the secretiuns may be
healthy but in unusual proportions, and
that these lesser or greater proportions, in
combination with the alum, constitute
poison.
"For example, two psrts.of mercury and
two parts Of chlorine form calomel, when
Is no. poisonous; but change the proper
tons to one part of mercury and two paris
OF chlorine. and wo get corrosive sublimate,
which IL deadly poison.
"Theu, again, we know nothing OF the
causes OF the constitutional pecullarit!es.
Why is it that one person eau cat oil kinds
OF green fruits and vegetables with impu-
nifty, while the same course might cost an
other individual bis life? One person can
han,lI. ,,n;onp md ann M vrithnut hE.
ing in the least affected; another is poison
II he approaches to within ten feet of them.
Out of family residing In a mslarial dts
trict, come OF the members will suffer hall
the year with fever and aeu-. while the
others will enjoy excellent health
during the entire year. Foods that
are wholesome to some persons
are actually poisonous to others This IL
especially true of some kinda Of fish.
There is no safety in taking alum into the
stomach, as 1t is shown TO be always ipjur.
ous, and often dangerous. Baking powders
properly compounded, and containing pure
cream OF tartar instead of alum, are more
convenient than yeast, and bread and pas
try 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
aud are vigorously conducting the war
against the use of alum in baking powders.
.'Befors committing ourselves, however,
we made tests of a sufficient number OF
boxing powders to satisfy ourselves that
the substitution of alum for cream OF tartar
in their composition has not been oyer-es-
timated. while careful examination OF the
Royal Baking Powder confirms our belief
that Or. Mott the government chemist,
when he singled out and commended this
powder Tor us wnoiesomeness. did il who'll
iy in the interests OF the public.
ave do not hesitate TO say that the Royal
Baking Powder people deserve the graft.
tude OF the community whom they are en-
deavoripg to protect.
"Will not some prominent manufacturer
of pure candies follow their example, and
expose the secrets of a business that ia do
ir Q untold mischief TO little chiIdren?"