The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1891-11-05
Is ALUM POISONOUS

Is ALUM POISONOUS?
Halls Journal of Health
"This question has caused a good
deal Of discussion. Alum Is used by
many bakers to whiten their bread,
enabling them to use AN inferior.
flour. 1t is most extensively EN-.
ployed as cheap substitute for
cream of tartar in the manufacture
of baking powders. Ii has not been
considered Immediately dangerous
although II continued IL induces
dyspepsia and obstinate constipation
Blu; the fact that many cases of poi
soning have occurred from the use OF
alum, puts the question in 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-become poisonous? They
are certainly obscure, and mt present
we can only surmise what they may
be. We suspect that the cause exists
in the individual poisoned; some
peculiarly of the constitution pro-
ducing a morbid change in the Sc
cretions of the stomach, with which
the alum combines and forms an ac-
tive poison; or the secretions may
be n ealthy but i'm unusual proper
tions, and that these less or greater
proportions I'm combination with the
alum constitute a poison"
ri nf
curry and two parts OF chlorine form
calomel, which is not poisonous, but
change the proportions to one part
mercury and two parts of chlorine,
and we get corrosive sublimate,
which is deadly poison.
"Then again we know nothing Of
the constitutional peculiarities.
Why Is IL that one person can eat all
kinds of green fruits and vegetables
with impunity, while the same
course might cost another individ-
ual his life? One person can handle
poison ivy and suniac without being
In the least affected; another IL poi
soned il he approaches to within ten
feet Of them. Out of family resid-
ing 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 Ii Is shown
to be always injurious, and often
dangerous.
The Scientific American published
in q recent number a list of alum
and ammonia baking powders.
which is OF great value at this
time. Following lie the list compiled
from official reports. Powders
marked with a star seem to have q
general sale, as they are mentioned
In at least two of the official reports.
*ATIASTIc PACIFIC. +RoYAL.
COOKS FAyoRITE. sCIoTo.
CROWN. SILVER SPOON.
CRYSTAL SILVER STAR.
DAISY. +sNowDRIFT.
*DAvIs' o. X. SOVEREIGN.
DRY YEAST. STAR.
GEN. STATE
GLOBE. STANDARD.
HKENToy. sUNFLowER.
PEARsoS's. WASHINGTON.
PERFECTION. WINDSOR.
PEERLESS. zIPP's GRAPE
PURrrY. CRYSTAL.
There are, in addition to the foregoing
list from the Scientific AmsrieaR, a num-
Der of such powders sold in the western,
that were not found in the eastern stores.
following is the list to date:
CALUMET, Contains Alum
Calumet Baking Powder Co.. Chicago.)
FOREST CRY. Contains Ammonia Alum
(youwie Bros, Cieveland.)
CHICAGO YEAsT. Con. Ammonia- Alum
Chapman & Smith Co., Chicago.)
Box Box, Contains Alum
HOTEL Contains Ammonia Alum
q. c. Grant Baking Powder Co., Chi
cago.)
CNRIvALED. =. Contains Alum
(Sprsgues. Warner & Griswold, Chicago.)
0SE SPooS, TayLoRs, Ammonia Alum
Taylor Mfg. Co. st. Louis.)
YARSALL's Contains Alum.
(yarBall Mfg. Co., st. Louisa
SHaw's Snow PuFY, Contains Alum.
(,Ierchants' Mfg Association, ST. Louis
DoDsoS & Hns Contains Alum.
(DodsJB & Hills. St. Louis.)
Contains Ammonia Alum.
(wm. H. Sheppard, St. Louis-)
BAIs's Contains Alum