The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-11-17
A MILLION A YEAR.
Lottery and Prize Schemes Used
to sell Alum and Ammo.
mia Baking Powders.

A New York concern, manufactur.
ers of ammonia baking powder boasts
that its yearly profits are over mil
lion dollars. While, perhaps, none
of the makers OF alum powders indi-
vidually can show 60 large earnings
yet their profits are enormous.
A business so profitable, will always
attract to itself tn Sc whose greed will
cause them to utterly disregard the
effect their traffic may have upon the
health or life of others.
Alum baking powders are intro
duced largely by gifts, prizes and
lottery schemes. A piece of glass
ware or china, a child's wagon, sled,
a pewter spoon or some other article
of attractive appearance, but Of small
intrinsic value or cost is given with
each purchase or a number is attached
to the can which entities the customer
to a similarly numbered article or to
priz. of some kind. 1t is in some
such way as this that the trade in alum
and ammonia baking powders, which
has now attained such giant proper
lions and their consumption by the
public which has reached an extent
which is truly alarming.
The highest authorities of all coun-
tries condemn the use of alum in
bread without reserve. In America
the most distinguished physicians,
chemists and hygienists have declared
that the traffic in alum baking pow
ders should be suppressed by law. In
England and France, where the sub
ject of pure food, and its effects upon
the system, has been more fully con.
sidered and made the subject Of ex-
tended experiments by the scientists,
80 serious a matter is the use of alum
in bread or other food considered to
be, that most stringent laws have been
enacted to prevent it. These laws
are rigidly enforced, and the sale of
alum baking powders would not be
permitted for an hour. Anyone who
attempted to make them for use in
food. or attempted to use them for
RAISING bread, biscuits or cake, would
suffer severe penalties.
The i'll effects upon the system of
food raised by alum baking powders
are the more dangerous because Of
their insidious character. 1t would be
less dangerous to the community were
it fatal at once, for thea such food
would be avoided; bat their delerious
action because imperceptible at first is
no less certain.
The pickering effect which alum
has when taken in the mouth is ia.
miliar to everyone. Physicians say
this same effect is produced by it upon
the delicate coats of the stomach and
intestines
What housewife would take home
TO her family a can of alum or am
monia baking powder if she knew it.
Such powders not only undermine the
system. but it is pointed out that
ammonia taken into the system in
even infinetisimal does day after day.
imparts to the complexion sallow
and bloched appearance.
1t is safe to discard all baking pow.
ders sold with prize or gift.
What a misnomer are the words
absolutely Pure" as applied to
baking powders. Two Of the largest
selling brands. one made from alum,
the other containing ammonia and
both of these drugged baking powders
have stamped upon their labels and
circulars these words absolutely pure,
as matter of fact they are "Abso-
lutely Poor" as shown by official
examinations,