Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Adulteration, Disease, Nutrition, Domestic Economy

    Discusses an extract from an article describing how a family narrowly escaped being poisoned by 'vermin powder' which a maidservant had mistaken for baking powder. Urges caution in using baking and egg powders, drawing attention to the Lancet's evidence of the adulteration of these substances with toxic and 'innutritious' compounds. Recommends reading 'a fourpenny pamphlet, On the Practice of Employing Certain Substitues for the Genuine Ingredients of Some Articles of Daily Food. By a Lady', and suggests that baking powder is so adulterated that it may as well be used as vermin powder.