Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-03-19
ApuLTERANTs IN BAKING POW
DER.
Ammonia and Alum Are the Prineipa
Adufterants Used.


To prove the presence Of ammonia in
a baking powder, a very simple, but
quite satisfactory test may be made by
anyone over his own cooking-stove.
Take tablespoonful of the powder TO
he tested and dissolve II in a table
spoonful OF water, place the solution
over the fire and stir it while heating.
Then introduce your nose into the cup.
The resemblance TO q bottle OF aqua
ammonia will, in many instances, be
very imprt ssive. To detect the pres
ence OF alum would require more crit
zeal analysis.
Probably the most nearly perfect bak-
ing powder would be that composed Of
pure cream OF tartar, bicar Donate of soda
and starch. The starch Is 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, constr
tutes one OF its prominent causes.
The extensive hold which disorders OF
the stomach have secured upon the
people Of America has become proyerb-
ial so much so, that dyspepsia has been
designated by some as the american
Disease. IL may be met with all over
our great country, in almost every house.
hold, and is becoming more prevalent
day by day. IL il disease OF ciYilixa-
ton, and largely OF modern civilization.
The Geological factors which might
enter into a treatise on the subject are
numerous, but the actual effects OF
many often very indefinite. No one, in
fact, has yet sat siactorily accounted for
the great prevalence OF dyspepsia in
| America.
But while numerically these causes
may be great, 1t 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 been
slowly, insiduously, yet none the LEST
dangerously, exeriing it's influence, and
10 which the attention OF the medical
profession has not yet been carefully
drawn. We refer t. the constant intro
duction through the food, into the
stomach, OF ammonia.
II any ore will take the pains Il
study the modern history OF dyspepsia
he will soon discover that its march o
progress has been contemporaneoui
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 branC
however 10 impure. There are one Of
two worthy exceptions. but many o
, them are contaminated. and the mos
deleterious substance to be f0usd II
any Is ammonia.
This ammonia introduced into tn,
, dough Is not all set free by heating
) According IN Prof. Hllgard, Universal,
! OF California, 1.-THE ammonia may no
| assume the gaseous state further thar
! does the water itself, OF which II slight,
! lowers the boiling point: when presen
/ in large proportion, tine ammonia NO
r itself will aid in the initiation Of tb
dough. 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 hrea'
cells gradually ditfuses and IL replaces
! by air In the course OF time, while tn
4 ammonia remains in absorption OF 80
a luton in the water Of the bread, recon
{ bined into carbonate.
So much Tor the presence OF ammoni
in some OF the popular brands OF bak n
powders now on the market. aud for il
I retention in the bread. Now, what ar
: some OF its effects Bartholow, classin
$ ii among the agents that increase waists
says: 'The long continued use OF am
monia impairs digestion by neutralizin
: the gastric juice. Increased waste Z
| tissue IL also one result OF its admins
traiion. manifested by pallor. emaciatiu
. and ieeblenese When introduced int
a the b ood In sufficient quantity, II dan
e ages the structure Of the red blood gle
a buIes, and in this way also effects tn
nutrition OF the body, besides the sctio
q which IL has in common with the othe
, arti lie. OF increasing the rate of vast
. or retfo1rade metamorphosis.n Thi
d question regarding the effect OF an
d monia upon the human economy 10 on
! upon which authorities do not dilfeI
9 and the individual experience OF ever
$ physician Is In accord with the asseftio
. II authorities. The agent 10 dru,
n not a food an excrement, not a muir
ment. The amount received by the syi
tenn through this means, while no
great at any particular time and not su
! icient TO prove injur Gus, becomes bot
I great and deleterious by being contir
= uous. Physicians owe IL TO their pa
4 iients and % the people generally - II
: form themselves regarding this mates
y and without fear or favor unqualified
10 condemn injurious preparations; an
y the various boards OF health through
:. Out the State. In dealing with the quel
!. ton II ,od sdulterations, would do Oh
!. people great service TO look well b n
brands OF baking powders containin
y ammonia and other injurious ingr'
= dients.-San Francisco Pacific NEEDLES
Journal.