18200. Misbranding of Seelye's laxative cold and beadacbe tablets, Seelye's
Wasa-Tusa, and aspirin tablets. U. S. v. 11 Bottles of Seelye's 
Laxative Cold and Headacbe Tablets, et al. Default decrees of 
condemnation, forfeiture, and destruction. (F. & D. Nos. 25926 
25927, 25928.    I. S. Nos. 12227, 12228, 12229.    S. Nos. 4153, 4154, 4155.)
Examination of the drug products herein described having shown that the 
labels contained statements representing that the articles possessed curative and 
therapeutic properties which they did not, the Secretary of Agriculture reported 
the matter to the United States attorney for the District of Idaho.
On March 17, 1931, the United States attorney filed in the District Court of 
the United States for the district aforesaid libels praying seizure and condem- 
nation of 11 bottles of Seelye's laxative cold and headache tablets, 35 bottles
of Seelye's Wasa Tusa, and 33 bottles of aspirin tablets, remaining in the 
original unbroken packages at Boise, Idaho, alleging that the articles had been 
shipped by the A. B. Seelye Medicine Co., from Abilene, Kans., on or about 
January 16, 1931, and had been transported from the State of Kansas into the 
State of Idaho, and charging misbranding in violation of the food and drugs 
act as amended.
The articles were labeled in part: (Laxative cold and headache tablets, car- 
ton) "Are excellent for LaGrippe * * * etc. * * * Valuable for 
* *. * LaGrippe * * * Coughs, etc.;" (Wasa-Tusa, carton and bottle) 
"Rheumatic Pains, Sore Muscles, Lame Back, * * * Headache, * * * 
Toothache, Earache, Sore Throat, La Grippe, Colic, Cramps, Diarrhoea, Cholera 
Morbus and Inflammation, Colic in Horses, Bloating and Diarrhoea in Cattle, 
Cholera and Diarrhoea in Poultry;" (aspirin tablets) "Is recommended for 
the treatment of * * * Neuralgia * * * Grippe, Influenza, Rheumatism, 
Sciatica, Lumbago, Gout, Neuritis, etc."
Analyses of samples of the articles by this department showed that the laxa- 
tive cold and headache tablets contained acetanilid and extracts of plant drugs 
including aloe, cinchona, and capsicum; that Seelye's Wasa-Tusa consisted 
essentially of alcohol, volatile oils including sassafras oil, ammonia, and small 
proportions of chloroform, ether, and extracts of plant drugs including capsi- 
cum; and that the aspirin tablets consisted essentially of acetylsalicylic acid.
It was alleged in the libels that the articles were misbranded in that the 
above-quoted statements regarding the curative or therapeutic effects of the said 
articles were false and fraudulent, since the articles contained no ingredients 
or combinations of ingredients capable of producing the effects claimed.
On April 6, 1931, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgments of 
condemnation and forfeiture were entered, and it was ordered by the court that 
the products be destroyed by the United States marshal.
ABTHUB M. HYDE, Secretary of Agriculture.