The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1891-10-08
A MILLION A YEAR.
Lottery and Prize Schemes
Used to Sell Alum and
Ammonia Baking
Powders.

A New York concern, mauufactur.
ers of an ammonia baking powder
boasts that its yearly profits are over
a million dollars. While, perhaps,
none of the makers of alum powders
individually can show 50 large earn.
ings yet their profits are enormous.
A business so profitable will al.
ways attract to itself those whose
greed will cause them to utterly dis.
regard 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 n number is at.
tached TO the can which entities the
customer to a similarly numbered
article or TO 4 prize 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 proportions and their con
sumption by the public which has
reached all 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.
iect of pure food, and its effect upon
the system, has been more fully con-
sidered and made the subject of Y
tended experiments by the scientists,
80 serious q matter is the use of
alum in bread OF other food consid-
cred to be, the most stringent laws
nave been enacted to prevent it.
These laws are rigidIy 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, biscuit or
cake would suffer severe penalties.
The ill effect 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 then such
food would be avoided but their de-
literous action because imperceptible
at first is no less certain.
The puckering effect which alum
has when taken in the mouth is f.
mlliar to everyone. Physicians say
this same effect is produced by it
upon the delicate couts of this stom-
aCh and intestlnes.
What housewife would take home
to her family a can of alum or am
nonia baking powder if she knew it.
Such powders not only undermine the
81 stem, but it IS pointed out that
ammonia taken into the system in
even inlinitisimal doses day after
day, imparts to the complexion a
sallow and blotched appearance
1t is safe TO discard all baking
powders sold with a prize or gift.
What Il 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 pow
ders have stamped upon their labels
and circulars these words, absolutely
pure, as q matter Of fact they are
absolutely Poor" as shown 10y of.
fetal examinations.