Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1886-09-16
THE DANGER BEFORE US.

We have already alluded to the i'm
portance of housekeepers paying more
attention to the kind of baking powder
used in leavening their bread. This is
a matter to which we cannot draw at
tention too often, because it is some
thing which involves the most serious
consequences to the general body of
mankind. Temperance apostles tell
us-and there is ample foundation for
the statement--that there is disease
both moral and physical in the intoxi-
eating cup; and in the same way there
is disease, slow, perhaps, but certain,
in the leavening agent which is EN-
ployed in one-half the homes on this
continent; sickness, perhaps death, in
the bread we eat at every meal-slow
poison placed there, too, by loving
hands, bymothers whose every thought
is for the health and happiness of their
children. by wives whose chief solace
is the life and cumfort of their hus-
bands. The victim of intoxication goes
to his fate with a full consciousness of
what he is doing; but the victim of
the adulterated and poisonous baking
powder falls and knows not whence
comes the blows that struck him The
certificates of chemists with high sound
ing titles have been read in confidence;
the toothsome cake has been given in
generous abundance to the children;
the daily bread has been eaten with
fancied security. But all the time the
poison has been working its slow effect.
There come spells of headache, loss of
appetite, a tiuttering of the heart; the
child is seized with an apparently
causeless cough. The coating of the
stomach is destroyed, perhaps; one of
the vital organs is rendered almost
useless; the kidneys are attacked with
Bright's disease. The health of the
child is irreparably broken down; the
adult becomes chronic invalid. These
baking powders that are composed of
lime, alum, acids and other vile things.
In view of these facts, surely all
housewives should exercise the care
that is, we know, now exercised by
some in their selections of. a popular
brand of baking powder. She who
does not do so whether the neglect is
the result of ignorance or recklessness,
cannot free her from the responsibility
for the health, perhaps life thereby
endangered. No housewife need be
ignorant of the quality and compost
tion of the article which she uses to
leaven her bread, biscuit and cake
The official report of the Government
chemists, who are certainly unpreju
diced, have been published, and show
very clearly the quality and strength
of all the baking powders in the mar
ket. The Royal Baking Powder, which
is accessible at every hand, is reported
absolutely free from lime, alum, phos-
phatic acid, or any injurious ingre-
dients. 1t is further stated by the
most eminent authorities on food hy-
giene that food leavened with it is
more Wholesome than when raised by
any other method. Its use is there
fore to be recommended. 1t is to be
regretted that no other baking powder,
when there are so many in the market,
some of which will find their way into
use, is free from all of these substances.
They all contain either lime or alum
The housekeeper who regards the
health of her loved ones should not
only order the Royal, but make per-
sonal examination to be sure that no
other brand is sent her in its place.