Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1891 — A MILLION A YEAR. [ARTICLE]

A MILLION A YEAR.

Lottery and Prize Schemes Used to Sell Alum and Ammonia Baking Powders. A Mew York concern, manufacture ers of an ammonia baking powder boasts that its yearly profits are over a million dollars. While, perhaps, none of the makers of alum powders individually can show such large earnings, yet their profits are enormous. A business so profitable, will always attract to itself those whose greed will cause them to utterly disregard the effect their traffic may have upon the health or life of others. Alum baking powders are introduced largely by gifts, prizes and lottery schemes. A piece of glassware or china, a child s wagon, sled, a pewter spoon or some ether article of attractive appearance,but of small Intrinsic value or cost, is given with each purchase, or a number is attached to the can which entitles the customer to a similarly numbered article or to a prize of some kind. It is in some such way as this that the trade in alum and ammonia baking powders has attained such giant pro f options, and their consumption by bepublic has reached an extent that is truly alarming. The highest authorities of all countries condemn the use of alum in bread without reserve. In America the most distinguished physicians, chemists and hygienists have declared that the traffic in alum baking fiowders should be suppressed by aw. In England and France, the subject of pure food and its effects upon the system, have been more fully considei ed and made the subject of extended experiments by the scientists, and so serious a matter is the use of alum in bread or other food considered to be, that most stringent laws have been enacted to prevent it. These laws are rigidly enforced,and the sale of alum baking powder would not be permitted for an hour. Any one who attempted to make them for use in food, or attempted to use them for raising bread, biscuit or cake would suffer severe penalties. The ill effects upon the system of food raised by alum baking powders are the more dangerous because of their insidious character. It would be less dangerous to the community were it fatal at once, for then such food would be avoided; but their deleterious action because imperceptible at first is no less certain. The puckering effect which alum has when taken in the mouth is familiar to everyone. Physicians say this same effect is produced by it upon the delicate coats of the stomach and intestines. What housewife would take home to her family a can of In nor ammonia baking powder if s ia knew it. Such powders not omy undermine the system, but it is pointed out that ammonia taken into the system in even infinetessimal doses day after day, imparts to the complexion & sallow and blotched appearance. It is safe to discard all baking powders sold with a prize or gift. What a misnomer are the words “Absolutely Pure,” as applied to baking powders. Two of the largest selling brands, one made from alum, the other containing ammonia, and both of these drugged baking powders have stamped upon their labels and circulars these words, “absolutely pure.” As a matter of fact they are “Absolutely Poor,"as shown by official examinations.