Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-01-08
ADULTERANTS ~ BAKING POW
DER.
ammonia and Alum Arc the PrincipsI
Adulterants Used.


a baking powder, very simple, but
quite satisfactory test may be made by
anyone over his own cooking-stoye
Take tablespoonful OF the powder to
be tested and dissolve it in q table
spoonful Of water, place the solution
over the fire and stir it while heating
Then introduce your nose into the cup.
The resem blance to q bottle of AQUA
ammonia will, in many instances, be
very impres sive. To detect the pres
ence Of alum would require more crit
ical analysis.
Probably the most nearly perfect bak
ing powder would be that composed oil
pure cream OF tartar, bicarbonate of soda
and starch. The starch is a food, the
other two ingredients when united
chemically in the dough, would liherate
carbonic acid gas and leave no objec-
tionable residue.
We might appropriately introduce
here some remarks on dyspepsia and
outline what, in our opinion, consti-
tutes one of its prominent causes.
The extensive hold which disorders of
the stomach have secured upon the
people OF America has become proverb-
ial SO much so, that dyspepsia has been
designated by some as the american
Disease. It may be met with all over
our great country, in almost every house
hold, and is becoming more prevalent
day by day. 1t is disease OF civiliza-
ton, and largely of modern civilization
The Geological factors which might
enter into treatise on the subject are
numerous, but the actual effects o.
many often very indefinite. No one, ir
fact, has yet sat sfactorily accounted for
he great prevalence of dyspepsia in
America.
But while numerically these causes
may be great, it is at the same time
true, that those exerting any significant
influence are comparatively few. With
out attempting to mention them all
there is one particularly which has beer
slowly, insiduously, yet none the less
dangerously, exerting its influence, anc
to which the attention OF the medica
profession has not yet been carefully
drawn. We refer to the constant intro
duction through the food, into thu
stomach, of ammonia.
Ii any one Will take the pains tt
study the modern history of dyspepsia
progress has been contemporaneoul
with the introduction and use of baking
powders. The consumption OF this ar
ticle has become enormous. No pantry
to-day is without it. Not every brant
however is impure. There are one O
two worthy exceptions, but many o
hem are contaminated, and the mos
Ieleterious substance to be found IL
any is ammonia.
This ammonia introduced into thu
dough is not all set free by heating
According to Prof. Hilgarf, Universit.
OF California, "The ammonia may no
assume the gaseous state further thai
does the water itself, of which it slight.
lowers the boiling point; when presen
in large proportion, the ammonia ga
itself will aid in the imitation OF tn
dough. A biscuit hastily baked ma.
have lost only from ten to twenty pc
cent. of the total amount introduced
into the baking powder. After cooling
the carbonic gas contained in the brea
cells gradually diffuses and is replace
Dy air in the course OF time, whlie Tn
ammonia remains in absorption or sc
luton in the water of the bread, recon
bined into carbonate"
So much for the presence OF ammonl
in some of the popular brands OF bakln
nowders now on the market, and for 1t
retention in the bread. Now, what ar
some of its effects? Bartholow, classln
| it among the agents that increase waste
says: 1.-THE long-continued use OF am
monia impairs digestion by neutralizln
the gastric Juice. Increased waste
tissue is also one result of its admins
tration. manifested by pallor, emaclatlo
and feebleness. When introduced int
the blood in sufficient quantity, it dan
aces the structure of the red blood gle
hnies and in this way also effects tn
nutrition of the body, besides the actio
which it has in common with the otne
arti les, of increasing the rate OF was
or retrograde metamorphosls. In
onestion regarding the effect OF an
monia upon the human economy Is on
mon which authorities do not dlffe
and the individual experience OF ever
nhvsician is in accord with the assei TIC
nf authorities. The agent is dru
not a food; an excrenient, not muir
ment. The amount received by the sy
tenn through this means, while M
great at any par ticnlar time and notsu
ficient to prove iniur Gus, becomes boz
treat and deleterious by being contll
mons. Physicians owe 1t to their po'
tents and to the people generally to i
form themselves regarding this matte
and without fear or favor unqualified
to condemn injurious preparations; ar
the various boards of health throug
ant the State, in dealing with the que
ton Of food authorizations, would 40 u y
. people great service to look wei 70 !; J!
brands OF baking powders containil
? ammonia and other injurious mgr
dients. Francisco Pacific Medic
Journal.