The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1900-10-18
ALUM BAKING POWDERS IN
CONGRESS.
Report that Evidence Of Their Harmful
naas La 0verM heImInR.

The Committee on manulacbuiSs VI
the Senate we're some time ago directed
to investigate food authorizations, and
accumulated volume of testimony
upon the subject from the best IN
formed parties and highest scientific
authorities in. the country.
One of the greatest sources OF danger
to our foods, the Committee state IN
their report, exists in alum baking
powders. The Committee found the
testimony, they say, overwhelmingly
condemnatory of the use OF alum In
baking powders, and recommended that
such use be prohibited by law.
Senator Mason, discussing in the
Senate the report OF the Committee and
the several bills introduced to carry
the recommendations of the Committee
into effect, said:-
When we made this report we made
it based on the evidence before US, and
the evidence is simply overwhelming.
| do not care how big lobby there may
be here for the alum baking powder,
do not care how many memorials they
publish, there is no place in the human
economy of human food for this thing
called alum. The overwhelming evil
dence of the leading physicians and
scientists of this country is that 1t is
absolutely unfit to go into human food,
and that in many cases-if the gentle
man will read the evidence, some OF
the physicians say they can trace cases
in their own practice-there are dis
eases OF the kidney due to the perpet-
ual use of alum in their daily bread.
When you mix a mineral poison,
as they all say that alum is,it is impos-
sible to mix it always to such degree
that there will not be a residuum left
of alum, which produces alumina, and
which contributes largely to the dis
eases of the people in this country.
l want to give the Senate an idea of
the class of men we have called. They
are the leading scientists from every
college OF the United States that we
could get hold Of.
Senator Mason, from long list of
scientists who had testified as to the
hurtfulness of alum baking powders,
and as to the healthfulness of cream
of tartar powders, mentioned the fol-
lowing
Appleton, John Howard, professor of
chemistry, Brown University, Provi-
dence, R. l.
Arnold, J. W. S., professor, Univer-
sity of New York.
Atwater, W. o., professor and d.
rector, Government experimental sta
ton, Washington, D. G.
Barker, George F., professor, Uni
versity of Pennsylvania.
Caldwell, G.. c., professor, Cornell
University, Ithaca, N. Y.
Chandler, G. F., professor, Columbia
University, New York.
Chittenden, Russell H., professor,
Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
Cornwall, H. B., professor, Uniyer-
sity of Princeton, New Jersey.
Champion, G. A, professor, Division
of Chemistry, Washington, d. G.
Fairhurst, Alfred, professor, chemist,
University of Kentucky, Lexington,
KY.
Frear, William, professor, State Col
lege, Pennsylvania.
Jenkins, Edward H., professor, de-
partment of agriculture, State of Con-
necticut.
johnson, S. W., professor, Yale
College, New Haven, Conn.
Mallet, John William, professor,
University Of Virginia.
New, w. NJ, professor, Army and
Medical Department, United States
Government.
Morton, Henry, president of Stevens
Institute. Hoboken, Nj.
Munroe, Charles Edward, professor OF
chemistry, Columbian University,
Washington, d. G.
Prescott, Albert B., professor, Uni.
versity of Michigan, Ann Harbor,
Mich.
Price, A. F., medical director,
United States Naval Hospital, WASH
ington. d. G.
Smart, Charles, Northumberland,
assistant surgeon-general, United
States Army.
Sternberg, George M, Surgeon-Gen-
eral, United States Army, Washington,
d. @.
Tucker, Willis 6. professor Of chemis-
try and chemist of State Board OF
Health, State of New York.
Vaughan, Victor c., professor, Uni
versity of Michigan, Ann Harbor,
Mich.
Van Reypen, W. X, Surgeon-Gen.
eraI, United States Navy, Washington,
ID. G.
Wiley, Prof. Ii. w., Chief Chemist
Department of Agriculture, United
States, Washington, ID. G.
Wyman, Walter, Surgeon-Genera
United States Marine Hospital, Wash
ington, d. G.
Mr.. Pettigrew. Was there any ties
timony which showed that there wer,
cases of injury to health as result o
constant use OF alum?
Mr.. Mason. Yes; l can turn you t.
the testimony.
MI. Pettigrew. / do not care to hav,
the Senator turn to it. l simply wan
to emphasize the point. agree will
the Senator. 1t has always been m,
own impression that alum bakinl
powder is injurious, but | wanted t.
bring it out and make it emphatic, j
the proof sustains that position.
Mr.. Mason. l quite agree with tn
Senator. 1t is claimed that there i
not a country in Europe that does no
prohibit the use of alum. Certainl.
three or four of the leading countries O
Europe to which l have had my atten
tion called prohibit the use OF alum il