The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-12
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.
New York concern, manufacturers of an
ammonia baking powder, boasts that its yearly
profits are over 81 100000 While, perhaps, none
OF the makers OF alum powders individually can
enormous.
business so profitable will always attract to
itself those 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 introduced largely
by gifts, prizes and lottery schemes. piece of
glassware or china, . child's wagon, sled, q
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 at
tached to the can which entities the customer
to q similarly numbered article or to a prize of
some kind. 1t il in some such way as this that
the trade in alum and ammonia baking powders
has now gained such giant proportions
and their consumption by the public has
reached an extent which IL truly alarming.
The highest authorities Of all countries con-
denim the use of alum in bread without reserve
In America the most distinguished physicians,
chemists and hyglsnists have declared that the
trafic in alum baking powders should be sup
pressed 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 experiments by
the scientists, SO serious q 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. Any one who atom pied
to make them for use in food, or attempted to
use them for raising bread, bircuit or cake,
would suffer severe penalties
The i'll effects upon the system OF food raised
by alum baking powers are the more dangerous
because OF their insidious character. 1t would
be less dangerous to the community were IL
fatal at once, for then such food would be
avoided; but their deleterious action because
imperceptlble 1t frst is no less certain
The pickering effect which alum has when
taken in the mouth is familiar to everyone
Physicians say this same effect is produced by
1t upon the delicate coats of the stomach and
intestines
What wife would take home to her family
can of alum or ammonia baking powder II she
knew it? Such powders not only undermine
the system. but il is pointed out that ammonia
taken into the system in even infnitesmal
doses day after day. impsrts 10 the complexion
sallow aud blotched appearance.
Ii is safe to discard all baking powders sold
with prize or gift.
What 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, abb
soutely pure as a matter of fact they are Sab
solutely Poor" as shown by official examine