193. Misbranding  of infra-red ray  lamps.     IT.  S. v.  95  Infra-Red Ray Lamps.
Consent decree of condemnation.    Product ordered released under bond
for relabeling.    (F..D. C. No. 1347.    Sample No. 46744-D.)
This product was a table model lamp fitted with a heating element. Its
labeling bore false and misleading representations regarding its efficacy in the
conditions indicated below.
On January 17, 1940, the United States attorney for the Northern District
of Illinois filed a libel against 95 infra-red ray lamps at Chicago, 111., alleging
that the article had been shipped in interstate commerce on or about December
20, 1939, from St. Louis, Mo., by the Knapp Monarch Co.; and charging that
it was misbranded. It was labeled in part: "No. L-ll-9 Modern Infra Red Ray
Lamp."
It was alleged to be misbranded in that the labeling bore representations that
the infra-red rays would penetrate deeply under the surface of the skin, forming
heat units which would cause an excess accumulation of blood-this action
being known as hyperemia; that it would produce beneficial chemical changes,
increase nutrition, and cause the white corpuscles to destroy any microbes which
might be present; that by producing hyperemia through the' use of the infra-red
rays, nature would be aided in the natural curative powers which reside in
the blood; that daily repetition of the treatments would tend to restore normal
conditions gradually; that the circulation of the skin would become more ac-
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tive and the amount of the blood in the over-burdened internal organs would
be diminished as the vital resistance of the tissues was increased; that catarrhs
of the stomach and intestines would tend to disappear, the digestive secretions
would resume their normal functioning, and the liver, adrenals, lymphatic
glands, and other poison-destroying, organs would again become effective; that
infra-red rays would hasten the disappearance of fat by oxidation of excess
tissue; that they were of great value in the treatment of organic or functional
heart disease because from one-third to one-half of the entire volume of blood
could be stored in the capillary system, thereby relieving the heart of its hard-
est work; that women experiencing trouble at menstruation would find comfort-
ing relief by using infra-red rays; that it was beneficial for abscesses or boils,
angina pectoris, asthma, biliousness, bronchitis, colds, earache, felon, gangrene,
stomach disturbances, heart disease, infections, insomnia, itch, kidney diseases,
laryngitis, liver diseases; lumbago, muscle diseases, delayed or painful menstrua-
tion, rheumatism, sciatica, gout, neuralgia, neuritis, sinus trouble, sprains, sore
throat, stiff neck, swollen glands, ulcers, and wounds, that infra-red rays were
also beneficial for inflammation of the gall bladder, inflammation of the bladder,
pus in the pleural cavities, hysteria, nervous diseases, inflammation of the
ovaries, inflammation of the bone membranes, inflammation of veins, inflamma-
tion of the fallopian tubes, septicemia, and inflammation of joints, which repre-
sentations were false and misleading.
On January 31, 1940, the claimant, the Knapp Monarch Co., having admitted
the allegations of the libel, judgment of condemnation was entered and the
product was ordered released under bond for the purpose of relabeling in
accordance with the provisions of the law.