The Dickinson press., 1891-10-17
A MILLION A YEAR.
Lottery and Prize Schemes Used to Sell
Alum and Ammonia Baking
Powders.


A New York concern, manufacture.
ers of All ammonia baking powders
boasts that its yearly profits are over
a million dollars. While, perhaps,
none of the makers of alum powders
individually II show so large earn.
ings yet their profits are enormous.
a 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 intro
duced largely by gifts, prizes and lot
terly schemes. y peice of glassware
or china, Il child's wagon, a sled, Il
pewter spoon or some other article of
attractive appearance, but of small
intrinsic value or cost is given with
each purchase or IL number is attach
ell to the IL which entities the Gus.
toner TO IL similarity numbered arti-
Gle OF Il prize oi some kind. 1t is in
some such way us this that the trade
in alum and ammonia baking powders
which has o attained such giant
proportions and their consumption by
the public which has reached an en-
tent 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 hygienests have declar.
ed that the traffic in alum baking
powders should be suppressed by law.
In England and France where the
subject of pure food; and it's effects
upon the system, has been more fully
considered and made the subject of
extended eXeriments by the SCIENTISTS,
so serious II matter is the use of alum
in bread or other TODD considered to
be, that most stringent laws have
been enacted to prevent it. These
laws are rightly enforced, and the
sale of alum baking powders would
not be permitted for an hour. Any
IL who attempted to make them for
use in fyod, or attempted to use them
for raising bread, biscuit OF cake
would suffer severe penalties.
The ill effects upon the spstem of
food raised by alum baking powders
arc the more dangerous because of
their insidous character. 1t would
be less dangerous to the community
were it fatal at once, for then such
food wonld be avoided; but their
deletcrious action because impercep-
tible ut first is no less certain.
The pickering effect which alum
has when taken in the mouth is fami-
liar to everyone. Physicians say this
same effect is produced by it upon
the delicate coats of the stomach and
intestines.
What housewife would take home
to her family a a of alum or ammo
mia baking powder if she knew it.
Such powders not only undermine
the system, hut it is pointed out that
ammonia taken into the system in
even inliuetisimal doses day after day,
imparts to the complexion a sallow
and blotched appearance.
1t is safe to discard all baking pow
ders sold with u prize or gift.
What a misnomer are the words
"lAbsolutcly 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 "Abso-
lutely Poor" us shown by otlic ial ex-
aminatiOns.