Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-09-24
A MILLION A YEAR.
Lottery and Prize Schemes Used to Sell
Alum and Ammonia Baking Powders.

Lottery and Prize Schemes Used to Sell
Alum and Ammonia Baking Powders.
A New York concern, manufacturers
of an ammonia baking powder boasts
that Its yearly profits are over q million
dollars. While, perhaps, none of the
makers of alum powders Individually
can show SO large earnings yet their
profits are enormous.
A business so profitable will always
attract to itself those whose greed will
cause them to utterly disregard the eff
feet their traffic may have upon the
health or life of Others.
Alum baking powders are introduced
largely by gifts, prizes and lottery
sch mes. A pieceof glassware or china,
a chlld's wagon, sled, pewter spoon or
some other article of attractive appear
ance, but of small Intrinsic value or cost
is gwen with each purchase or num-
Der is attached to the can which entities
the customer to similarly numbered
article or to 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 pro-
portions and their consumption by the
which is truly alarming.
The highest authorities of all coun-
tries condemn the use of alumni in
bread without reserve. In America the
most distinguished physicians, chemists
and hygienists have declared that the
traffic in alum baking powders should
be Suppressed by law. In England
and France where the subject of pure
food, and its effect upon the system,
has been more fully considered and
made the subject of extended expert
ments by the scientists, SO 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 rigdly en-
forced. and the sale of alum baking
powders would not be permitted for an
hour. Any one who attempted TO make
them for use in food, or attempted 10
use them for raising bread, biscuit or
cake would suffer severe penalties.
The Ill effects upon the system OF
food raised by alum baking powders
are the more dangerous because oil
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 dcleterlous
action because imperceptible at first Il
no loss certain.
The pickering effect which alum has
when taken IN the mouth is familiar tC
everyone. Physicians say this same
effect is produced by IT upon the deli.
cate coats of the stomach and intes.
| tines.
What housewife would take home to
! her family a can of alum or ammonia
! baking powder il she knew it. Such
powders not only undermine the sys
ten, but it Is pointed out that ammonis
taken into the system IN even infinetis
NAL doses day after day, imparts to the
complexion = sallow and blotched ap
| pearance.
| Ii il safe 20 discard all baking DOW
ders sold with prize or gift.
| What a misnomer are the word,
absolutely Pure" as applied TO bakins
| powders. two of the largest sellin.
brands. one made from alum, the otbel
containing ammonia and both of these
druggca taking powders have stamped
! their labels and circulars these word
| absolutely pute, as matter of fac
they are Absolutely Poor" as show
| by Official examinations.