Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-10-15
Is ALUM POIsONOUss
[Hale's journal of HEALTH

of discussion. Alum is used by MANY
bakers to whiten their bread, enabling
them to use an inferior -four. 1t is most
extensively employed as cheap substitute
for cream of tartar in thel manufacture of
baking powders. 1t has not been con.
sidered Immediately dangerous; alth ugh
if continued it induces dyspepsia and
obstinate conslpat on. But the TACT
that many cases ofpoisoning have occurred
from the use of alum, puts the question
in more serious aspect. and prudent
people will exercise caution in the selec-
tion of baking powders.
Under what conditions then, does this
substsnce-formerly used only for me-
chanical or medicinal purposes-become
poisonous? They are certainly obscure.
and at present we can only surmise what
they may be. We suspect that the cause
exists in the individual poisoned; some
popularity of the constitution producing
a morbid change in the secretions of the
stomach, with which the alum combines
and forms en- active poison; or the secre
lions may be healthy but in unusual pro-
portions, and that these less or greater
proportions in combination with the alum
constitute poison"
For example, two parts Of mercury and
two parts of chlorine form calomel. which
is not poisonous. but change the propor-
tions to one part mercury and two parts
of chlorine. and we get corrosive subj.
mate, which is deadly poison.
"Then again we know nothing Of the
constitutional peculisrities. Why is it
that one person can eat all kinds of green
fruits and vegetables with impunity,
while the same course might cost another
individual his lifef One person can han
die poison ivy and sumsc without being
in the least affected; another is poisoned
ii he approaches to within 10 feet of
them. Out OF a family residing in a
malaIial district. some of the members
will suffer half the year with fever and
ague. while the others will enjoy excel
lent health during the entire year. Foods
that are wholesome to some persons are
actu4lly poisonous to others. This is es-
pecislly true of some kinds of fish. There
is no safety in taking alum into tue stom-
ach. as it is shown to be always injurious,
and often dangerous"
The Scientific American published in a
recent number list CT alum and ammon-
la baking powders, which is of great
value at this time. Following is the list
compiled from official reports. Powders
marked with star seem to have a gener.
al sale. as they are m .ntioned in AT least
two of the offici-l reports:
ATLANTIC & PACIFIC .RoYAL
COOKS FAVOHITE SCIOTO
CROWN SILVER SPOON
CRYSTAL SILVER STAR
DAISY 'SNOwDRIFT
'DAVIS' o. X. SOVEREIGN
DRY YEAST STAR
GEM STATE
GLOBE STANDARD
*KENToN SUNFLoWER
PEARsoN'S WASHINGTON
PERFECTION WINDSOR
PEERLESS zIPP'S GRAPE
PURITY CRYsTA,,
There are, in addition to the foregoing list from
the Scientific American, a number of such pow
ders sold in the western that were not found in
the eastern stores.
Following i list to date:
CALUMET, Contains Alum
Calumet Baking Powder Co., Chicago.j 5-'"'
FOREST CITY, Contains Ammonia Alum
tvouwie Bros, Cleve'and,)
CHICAGO YEAST, Contains ANN MIA Alum
Chapman Smith Co Chicago)
BON BON Contains Alum
HOTEL, Contains Ammonia Alum
o. C. Grant Baking Powder Co, Chicago.)
UNR.VALED, Contains Alum
ONE SPOON, TAYLOR'S, Ammonia Alum
(Taylor Mfg. Co. St. LOUISE
'AN' tYarnal Mfg. Co. St. Lo3 Gs1'a'nS Alum
pob MsSssaR Sils Mig Association s. Ieais
Dodson & Hills. St. Louis -'''''1
Contains Ammonia Alum
tWm. II. Shepard, 81. LOUISE
BANS Contains Alum
MONARCH, Contains Ammonia Alum
tReid, Murdoch & Co., Chicaeo)
CBengall Coffee & Spice Mills, Chicago 'D'"
GIANT, Contains Alum
MILK, Contains Alum
(spencer, Bluing Paddle Co Chicago. 5'1A
KALBFELL'S PURITY, Contains Alum
(Kalbfell Mig. Co., Chicago.)
RISING SUN, Contains Ammonia
Phoenii Chemical Works, Chicago
WHITE ROSE, Contains Ammonia Alum
(Iiooe, Conee q spice Mills, Minneapols.)
WOODS ACNE, Contains Ammonia
CThomas Wood Co Philad, lphia.)
ANDREWS PEARL, Contains Ammonia
&c. E. Andrews & Co, Milwaukee.)
HARRIEs, FAVoRITE, Contains Alum
rIDELil1, Contains Alum
SoLAh, Contains Alum
SHERMAN Bros, Chicego)
PUTMAN'S BEST, Contains Alum
wells. Putnam & Co., Chicaeo)
CHINA II HOUSE, Contains Alum
Noah McDowall, st. Pau Minn.)
TWIN CITY. Contains Alum
q: X: Ferguson, Minneapolis, Minn)
HERCUI ES, Contains Ammonia
tHercules Baking Powder Co., San Francisco.)
CLIMAX, Contains Ammonia
Climax Baking Powder Co, Indianapos.)
A,umfnnv,, IN, R,ora.