Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-10-10
A MILLION A YEAR.

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 million
dollars. While, perhaps, none Of the
makers Of alum powders individually
can show so large earnings yet their pro-
fits are enormous.
A business 80 profitable, will always
attract to itself those whose greed will
cause them to utterly disregard the ef-
feet their traffic may have upon the
health or life OF others.
Alum baking powders are introduced
largely by gifts, prizes and lottery
schemes. A piece of glassware or china,
child's wagon, sled, pewter spoon or
some other article of attractive appear
ance, but of small intrinsic value or cost
is given with each purchase or num-
ber is attached to the can which entities
the customer to a similarly numbered
article or a prize Of some kind. IL is
some such way as this that Tie trade in
alum and ammonia baking powders,
which has now attained such giant pro-
portions 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 powders should be sup
pressed by law. In England aud France
where the subject of pure food, and its
effect upon the system, has been more
fully considered and made the subject
of extended experiments by the scient-
lists, SO serious 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 per-
mitted for an hour. Any one who at
tempted to make them for use in food.
or attempted to use them for raising
bread, biscuit 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 insidi-
Gus character. 1t would be less danger
GUS to the community were it fatal at
once, for then such food would be ayoid-
ed !; but their delecterious action be-
cause imperceptible at first is no less
certain.
The puckering effect which alum has
when taken in the mouth is familiar to
everyone, Physicians say this same ef-
feet is produced by it upon the delicate
coats ofthe stomach and intestines.
What housewife would take home to
her family can Of alum or ammonia
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 infnetisi
NAL doses day after day, imparts TO the
complexion sallow and blotched APP
pearanCe.
II is safe TO discard all baking powders
sold with prize or gift
What a misnomer are the words Sab
solutely 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 a matter of
fact they are Absolutely Poor" as
shown by official examinations.