The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1900-10-12
ALUM BAKING POWDERS iM
CONGRESS.


the senate were some time ago directed
TO investigate the food authorizations,
and accumulated volume Of testimony
upon the subject from the best inform
ed parties and highest scientific author
tiles III 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 SEN
ate the report OF the committee and tina
several bills introduced to carry the
recommendation OF the committee in
to effect. said:
when we made this report we mazda
it based on the evidence before us, and
the evidence is simply Overwhelming.
l do not care how big lobby thera
may be here for the alum baking pow
der, / 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
evidence of the leading physicians and
scientists of this country is that it is
absolutely unfit to 90 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 praoeice-thele are dis
eases OF the kidney due to the perpetual
use Of alum in their daily bread.
when you mix mineral poison, as
they all say that alum is it is impoesi-
BILE to mix it always to such a degree
that there will not be residuum left
OF alum, which produces alumina, and
which contributes largely to the diseases
OF the people in this country.
II 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 follow
ing
Appleton, John Howard, professor
OF chemistry, Brown University, Prov
idence, 4. l.
Arnold, ]. W. s., professor. Uniyer-
sity of New York.
Atwater, W. O., professor and diFec-
tor, government experimental station,
Washington, d. c..
Barker, George F., professor, uni
versity of Pennsylvania.
Caldwell, G.. c., professor, Cornell
University, Ithaca, n. Y.
Chandler, C. f. professor, Columbia
University, New York.
Chittenden, Russell H., professor.
Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
Cornwall, II. B., professor. Univer-
sity OF Princeton, New Jersey.
Champion, c. A., professor, Division
OF chemistry, Washington, D. c..
Frear, William, professor, State Col
lege, Pennsylvania.
Jenkins, Edward H., professor, de-
partment OF agriculture, state OF Con-
necticut.
johnson, S. W, professor, Yale Col
+, iege, New Haven, Conn.
i Mallet John William, professor,
c University OF Virginia.
o New, w. M, professor, Army and
I Medical Department, United States
e government.
= MunrUe, Charles Edward, professor
n OF chemistry, Columbian University
Washington, D. G.
l. Prescott, Albert B., professor, Uni
o versity of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Mich.
!. Price, A. F., medical director, Unit
/ ell States Naval Hospital, Washington,
>. D. c.
e Wiley. Prof. II. W., Chief Chemist
d department OF agriculture, United
e States, Washington. d. c..
o Wyman. Walter. Surgeon General
70 United States Marine Hospital, Wash
ington, d. c.
d Mr.. Pettigrew-Was there any testi
y mony which showed that there wer'
1t cases of injury to health as a result o
4 constant use OF alum?
)t Mr.. Mason-Yes; l can turn you t
IT the testimony.
10 Mr.. Pettigrew-I do not care to have
u the senator turn to it. / simply wan
to emphasize the point l agree will
the senator. 1t has always been my
own impression that alum baking pow
u der is injurious, but wanted to brin,
it out and make it emphatic. if thu
proof sustains that position.
( Mr.. Mason quite agree with th
senator. 1t is claimed that there
IL not country in Europe that does no
II prohibit the use OF alum. Certainl,
Is three or four of the leading countries 0
e Europe to which have had my atten
= ton called prohibit the use of alum il
baking powder.
MIR. Pettigrew-Did the chemist
who came before the committee, thes
lg professors, generally testify-was it tn
re result OF their evidenoe-that th
cream of tartar baking powder