0261.  Misbranding of   Bliss    Native    Herbs.     U.    S. *     *     *     v.    15    Dozen
Boxes of     *     *      *     Bliss Native Herbs     *      * *.¦    Default decree of
condemnation, forfeiture, and destruction. (F. & D. No. 11404. T. S. 
Nos.  3002-r,  3003-r.     S.  No.  YV-496.)
On November 19, 1919, the United States attorney for the Southern District 
of California, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in 
the District Court of the United States for said district a libel for the seizure 
and condemnation of 15 dozen boxes of Bliss Native Herbs, remaining unsold 
in the original unbroken packages at Los Angeles, Calif., alleging that the 
article had been shipped by the Alonzo 0. Bliss Medical Co., Washington, D. C, 
between the dates January 12 and May 1, 1919, and transported from the Dis- 
trict of Columbia into the State of California, and charging misbranding in 
violation of the Food and Drugs Act, as amended.
Analysis of a sample of the article by the Bureau of Chemistry of this depart- 
ment showed that it consisted essentially of aloes, buchu, licorice, galangal, and 
a resin-bearing drug.
Misbranding of the article was alleged in substance in the libel for the reason 
that it was labeled in part as follows, (outer carton, herb form) "* * * 
Many of the ills of to-day are due to the present-day mode of life; the nervous
strain, irregularity of habits, indiscretion of diet, etc., are much benefited by 
the regular use of Bliss Native Herbs, * * *," (inner carton, herb form) 
" * ¦* * Treatment is the same in all cases except chills, which require three 
tablespoohfuls the first night, two the next, and then one each night. * * *,"' 
(circular contained in all packages) "* * * Auto-Intoxication is a new 
name for Chronic Intestinal stasis (constipation) that is the cause of 95% of 
human ailments and diseases. * * * To restrain the growth of harmful 
bacteria in the intestines and eliminate them, thereby preventing intestinal 
putrefaction and auto-intoxieation we strongly recommend Bliss Native Herbs 
Tablets that successfully adjusts bowel troubles. Intestinal Indigestion * * * 
Rheumatism Bliss Native Herbs is invaluable for Sciatica, Lumbago, acute 
and chronic rheumatic pains, enlargement of joints. Corrects the blood, dis- 
solving acids that accumulate in the system. * * *," which statements 
and claims were false and fraudulent in that the said article contained no 
ingredient or combination of ingredients capable of producing the therapeutic 
effects claimed.
On April 6, 1921, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgment of 
condemnation and forfeiture was entered, and it was ordered by the court that 
the product be destroyed by the United States marshal.
E. D. BALL, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.