Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-03-22
The Danger Bef6re 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 1t 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 intOxicat-
ing cup; and in the same way there is
disease, slow perhaps, but certain, in
the leavening agent which is employed
in One-half the homes on this conti-
.Ient; sickness, perhaps death, in the
bread we eat at every meal-slOw poi
son, placed there, too, by loving hands,
by mothers whose every thought is for
the health and happiness oftheir child
ren, by wives whose chief sOlace is the
life and comfort of their husbands. The
victim ofintoxication goes to his fate
with full consciousness of what he Is
doing; but the victim of the adulter-
ated and poisonous powder falls and
knows not whence comes the blow that
struck him. The certificates ofchemists
with high-sounding titles have been
in confidence; the tOOthsome cake has
been given in generous abundance to
the children; the daily bread has been
eaten in fancied security. But all the
time the poison has been working its
SLOW effect. There come spells of head
ache, loss of appetite, fiuttering of the
heart; the child is seized with an ap-
parently 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 a chronic invalid
These are the doings of the modern
cheap baking powders that are COM
posed of lime, alum, acids and other
vile things.
In view of these facts surely all house
wives should exercise the care that is,
we know, now exercised by some in
their selections of a proper brand of
baking powder. She who does not do
so, whether the neglect is the result of
ignorance or recklessness, cannot free
herself from the responsibility for the
LiSullLl1
ed. No housewife need be ignorant of
the quality and composition of the
article which she uses to leaven her
bread, biscuit and cake. The official
reports of the government chemists,
who are certainly unprejudiced, have
been published and show very clearly
the quality and strength of all the bak-
ing powders in the market. The Royal
Baking Powder, which is accessible at
every hand, is reported absolutely free
from lime, alum, phosphate acid, or
any injurious ingredients. 1t is further
stated by the most eminent authorities
on food hygiene that food leavened
with it is more wholesome than when
raised by any other method. Its use is
therefore to be commended. 1t is to
be regretted tina: no other baking pow
der, 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 personal examination to be sure
that no other brand is sent her in its
place.