Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-09-10
Is Alum POisOneus2
[Hall,s Journal Of Healih |


ployed as a cheap substitute for
cream of tartar in the manufacture
of baking powders. 1t has not been
considered Immediately dangerous;
although If continued IL induces
dyspepsia and obstinate cnnstipa-
ton. But the fact that many cases
of poisoning have occurred from the
use of alum, puts the question in a
more serious aspect, and prudent
people will exercise caution in the
selection of baking powders.
"Under what conditions then,
does this substance-formerly used
only for mechanical or medicinal
purposes poisonous? They
are certainly obscure, and AT present
we can ouly suruise what they may
be We suspect that the cause ex-
lists in the individual poisoned; some
popularity of the constitution pro
ducing a morbid change in the secrc-
tions of the stomach, with whioii
the alum combines aud forms an
active poison; or the secretiOnS may
be healthy but in unusual prOp)r
tions and that these less or grearer
proportions in combination with,the
alum constitute poison.
'For example, two parts of
mercury and two parts of chlorine
form calomel, which is not poi, onous,
butchange the proportions to one part
mercury and two parts of chlorine,
and we get corrosive subllm lie,
which is deadly poison.
"Then again, we know nothing of
the constitutional pc uliarities
Why is it that one person can eat all
kinds of gr N fruits aud vegetables
with irnpunity, while the same
course might cost another individual
his life? One person can handle
poison ivy and sumac without being
in the least affected; another is
poisoned if he approaches to within
10 feet of them. Out of family re-
siding in a malarial district, some of
the members will suffer half the
year with fever and ague, while the
others will enjoy excellent health
during the entire year. Foods that
are wholesome to some persons are
actually poisonous to others. This
is especially true of some kind of
fish. There is no safety in taking
alum into the stomach, AS it is
shown to be always injurious, and
often DANCE rous." \
The Scientific American published
in a recent num Der list of alum
and ammonia 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 general
sale, as they are mentioned in at
least two of the official reports.
*ATLANTIC d PACIFIC. .~RoYAL.
COOKS FAvoRITE. sCIoTo.
CROWN. SILVER SPOON.
CRYSTAL. SILVER STAR.
DAISY, *sNowDRIFT.
*DAvIs o. X. SOVEREIGN.
DRY YEAST. STAR.
GEd STATE.
GLOBE. STANDARD.
@KENToN, sUNFLowER.
PEARsoN's, wAsHINGToN.
PERFECTION. WINDSOR
PEERLESS. zIPP's GRAPE.
PURITY. CRYSTAL.
There are, in addition to the fore
going list from the Scientific Amer
lean, number of such powders
sold in the western that were not
found in the eastern stores.
Following is the list to date:
CALUMET, Contains Alum.
(CalumetBak'ngPowd' Co., Chicago }
FOREST CITY, Contains Ammo
MIA Alum. (Vouwie Bros. Clev.)
CHICAGO YEAST. Contains Am
monia Alum. Chapman q Smith
Co. Chicago.)
BON BON, Contains Alum.
HOTEL, Contains Ammonia Alum.
q. G. Grant Baking Powder Co.,
Chicago.)
UNRIVALED, Contains Alum.
(Spragues, Warner & Griswold,
Chicago.
ONE SPOON TAYLCR'S Ammo
mia Alum. Taylor Mfg Co StLouis)
Contains Alum.
(Yarnall Mfg Co., st. Louis.
SHAW'S SNOW PUFF, Contains
Alum. (Merchanls' Mfg. Associa-
ton, st. Louis
& Hills, Contains Alum.
(Dodson & Hills, st. Louis.
SHEPAkD'S Contains Ammonia
Alum. (Wm. III. Sheppard, st.
Louis.)
Contains Alum.
(Meyer-Bain Mfg. Co, st. LOUISE
MONARCH, Contains Ammonia
Alum, Reid, Murdoch & Co., Chic
ago.
SNOW BALL, Contains Alum.
Bengal Coffee &Spice Mills, Chicago
Contains Alum
MILK Contains Alum.
wv. +. Mclaughlin q Co., Chicago }
ECHO, Contains Alum.
Spencer Bluing Paddle Co. Chicago
PURITY, Contains
Alum. (Kalbfell Mfg. Co., Chicago.)
SUN, Contains Ammonia.
Phoenix Chemical Works, Chicago
WHITE ROSE, Contains Ammonia