The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-02-13
IS ALUM POISONOUS 2

DR.. Halls Jo,a'ma Of Health, in
recent 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 -four.
1t is more extensively employed as
cheap substitute for cream oftartar in
the manufacture of baking powders.
It has not been considered Immediate
~ dangerous; although if continued it
induces dyspepsia and obstinate con
stipation. But the fact that many
cases of poisoning have occurred from
baking powders which contained alum,
puIs the question in a more serious
aspect, and prudent people will exer-
else caution in the selection of baking
powders.
'Under what conditions, then, does
this substance-formerly used only
for mechanical or. medicinal purposes
become poisonous? They are GER
tainly obscure, and at present We can
only surmise what they may be. We
suspect that the cause exists in the in
dividual poisoned; some popularity of
the constitution producing a morbid
change in the secretions Of the stom-
ach, with which the alum combines
and forms an active poison; or the
secretions may be healthful but in
unusual proportions, aad that these
less or greater proportions, in COM
bination with with the alum, consti-
tute a poison.
"For example, TWO parts of mer-
curry and two parts of chlorine form
calomel, which is not poisonous; but
change the proportions to one part of
mercury and two parts of chlorine,
and we get corrosive sublimate, which
Is a deadly poison.
"Then, again, we know nothing of
the causes of constitutional peculiar
tiles. Why is it that one person can
eat all kinds of green fruits and vege-
tables with impunity, while the same
course might cost another individual
his life? One person can handle
poison ivy and sumac without being
in the least affected; another is poison
ed if he approaches to within ten feet
of them. Ont of a family residing in
malarial district, some of the menu
bers will suffer half the year with
fever and ague, while the others will
enjoy excellent health during the en-
tire year. Foods that are wholesome
to some persons are actually poisonous
to others. This is especially true of
some kinds of fish. There is no safety
in taking alum into thelstomach, as it
is shown to be Always injurious, ard
often dangerous. Baking powders
properly compounded, and containing
pure cream of tartar instead of alum,
are more convenient than yeast; and
bread and pastry made with them are
just as wholesome, and far more pala;
table. We are in entire sympathy
with the manufacturers of the Royal
Baking Powder-who commenced and
are vigorously conducting the war
against the use of alum in baking
powders.
Before committing ourselves, how
ever, we made tests of a sufficient
number of baking powders t. satisfy
ourselves that the substitution of alum
for cream of tartar in their compost
ton has not been over estimated, while
careful examination of the Royal
Baking Powder confirms our belief
that DR.. Mott, the Government Chem
list, when he singled out and com
mended this powder for its whole
someness, did it wholly in the interests
of the public.
ave do not hesitate to say that the
Royal Baking Powder people deserve
the gratitude of the community whom
they are endeavoring to protect.
"Will not some prominent manufac.
turer of pure candies follow their ex-
ample, and expose the secrets of a
business that is doing untold mischief
to little children ?" II