In Popular Culture
Much use was made of the supposed properties of alum as a comedy gag in films, primarily in the 1920s and 1930s. In a typical situation it would be introduced by accident or intent into foodstuffs, with ingestion causing the victim's mouth to assume a tight pucker. Speech was usually difficult or impossible. Alum's use at the time as an astringent gargle for curing sore throats provided inspiration for the gag. In animation, cartoon physics could magnify the effect — a man or woman who ingested alum would learn that it caused his or her head to shrink and/or his or her voice to become several octaves higher. This gag was famously used on Sylvester Cat in 'I Taw a Puddy Tat' and 'Birds Anonymous,' and by Bugs Bunny, on Giovanni Jones, in the cartoon Long-Haired Hare.
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