19386. Misbranding of Cal-So-Dent. U. S. v. 11% Dozen Packages of Cal- 
omel. Default decree of condemnation, forfeiture, and de- 
struction.     (F. & D. No. 27383.    I. S. No. 47282.    S. No. 5557.)
Examination of samples of Cal-So-Dent from the shipment herein described 
having shown that the bottle and carton labels and the circulars shipped with 
the article contained statements representing that it possessed curative and 
therapeutic properties which, in fact, it did not possess, the Secretary of Agri- 
culture reported the matter to the United States attorney for the Southern 
District of Ohio.
On December 18, 1931, the United States attorney filed in the District Court 
of the United States for the district aforesaid a libel praying seizure and con- 
demnation of 11% dozen packages of Cal-So-Dent, remaining unsold at Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, alleging that the article had been shipped by the Calsodent Co. (Inc.), 
from New York, N. Y., on or about January 15, 1931, and had been transported 
from the State of New York into the State of Ohio, and charging misbranding 
in violation of the food and drugs act as amended.
Analysis of a sample of the article by this department showed that it con- 
sisted essentially of sodium chloride (95.8 per cent), sodium bicarbonate, vola- 
tile oils including menthol, eucalyptol, and thymol, and saccharin, colored with 
a red dye.
It was alleged in the libel that the article was misbranded in that the 
following statements regarding the curative or therapeutic effects of the said 
article were false and fraudulent, since it contained no ingredient or com- 
bination of ingredients capable of producing the effects claimed: (Carton and 
bottle) "A Preparation for Mouth Health * * * Removes Infected Mucin; 
(four-page circular) " Even clean teeth can decay. It is a great disappoint- 
ment to the dental profession itself that the campaign for clean teeth has failed 
to cut down decay in children's teeth. At last, after much study, the source 
of the trouble has been found. It all depends on the circulation of the blood 
in the gums. The teeth depend for their health on blood supply, just as any 
other part of the body does. It is very fortunate that we can stimulate the 
supply of blood in the gums easier than we can almost anywhere else in the 
body. This is done by what is known as the Calsodent treatment. Calsodent 
was created especially to stimulate the blood supply in the gums;" (eight-page 
circular) "The Modern Periodontic Treatment for improving the health of the 
mouth. A Healthy Mouth is the birthright of everyone, but due to the weak- 
ening influence of our civilization, few mouths remain healthy throughout life. 
White, even teeth, free from decay, and pink firm gums which hug the necks of 
the teeth and completely fill the spaces which exist between the teeth and their 
necks—these are the signs of a healthy mouth. The foundation of health in 
the mouth is a vigorous circulation of the blood in the gums and bone which 
surround the teeth. When the jaws and teeth are given insufficient exercise, 
the flow of blood in the blood vessels become sluggish, and the vitality and 
resistance of the tissues becomes diminished. Bacteria, which are always 
present in the mouth, can only attack tissues which are lacking in resistance. 
And since it is impossible to destroy all mouth bacteria and keep the mouth 
permanently sterile, the only adequate protection against such infection lies in 
maintaining a high state of resistance in the mouth tissues. Cleanliness of the 
teeth is an important aid to mouth health, but it is now known that stimula- 
tion of the circulation of the gums is even more important. In fact, it has been 
found that the healthy mouth is naturally clean, and that an unclean condition 
is usually a sign of disease. Mouth infection is a general name which may be 
applied to a disease condition commonly known as pyorrhea. Leading dentists 
now use the term periodontoclasia, or periodontal disease, to designate this 
condition. It is a complex disease and it is now known that it has four stages. 
Failure to realize this fact has resulted in much confusion in the past. The 
first stage is marked by a recession of the gums at the neck of the tooth, usually 
without redness at the gum margin. In the second stage the gums are red and 
inflamed and bleed easily. This may sometimes appear before the recession. 
In the third stage the teeth themselves begin to show a slight loosening. In 
the fourth stage pus forms in pockets which are produced by the separation of 
the gums from the tooth. This stage is properly called pyorrhea, which means 
a flow of pus. This name has been unfortunate because it led dentists to think 
that the recession and inflammation (gingivitis) were a separate disease. It 
is now known that if these early conditions are neglected, they will inevitably 
lead on to the pus forming stage. When it does reach this stage, it is very 
apt to injure the general health of the body as well as of the mouth. The 
secret of mouth health is a vigorous flow of blood in the gums. The best way 
to stimulate this flow of blood is by vigorous chewing of coarse food. Most 
cooked foods do not provide enough exercise, however, so the modern perio- 
dontic treatment described on the following pages has been developed to pro- 
vide the additional stimulation needed. Like the chewing of food, this treat- 
ment must be given daily to be effective. The results obtained by specialists 
who have been using it in their offices for more than five years, have demon- 
strated conclusively that it is a real protection against periodontal disease. 
In other words, so called pyorrhea can be cured and more important still, it 
can be prevented. * * * The Periodontic Treatment How you can apply it 
in your own home * * * The first thing to do is to examine your gums. 
* * * What you will probably see is a redness at the gum margin or a 
slight swelling of the edge of the gum. There may also be a recession of the 
gum which exposes the neck of the teeth and the spaces between the teeth. 
Now press your finger on the gum and notice whether it is firm or has a
spongy texture. Do the gums bleed, either upon pressure or when brushing- 
These are signs of periodontal disease (pyorrhea). In the later stages you 
will see a visible exudation of pus squeezed out from under the gum margin. 
If the later stages of disease are found, it will be necessary for you to have 
treatment given by your dentist. But whether it is in the early or advanced 
stage, the same home treatment is prescribed, and is essential for building up 
the resistance on which health is founded. * * * If the gums bleed, keep 
on with the treatment, as the bleeding gum is a sign of disease which the 
treatment is designed to overcome. Keep dipping the brush in the Calsodent 
solution during the entire operation, rinsing it each time. It will be noticed as 
the brush is rinsed in the Calsodent solution, that a reddish scum accumulates 
on the surface. This is the infected material which is being removed from the 
surfaces of the teeth, gums, tongue and mucous membrane of the mouth. 
After you have given yourself this treatment several times, you will find that 
the amount of scum is noticeably diminished, because it is only found in large 
amount in unhealthy, unclean mouths. * * * Even the best efforts of 
your dentist will fail to give you complete mouth health, if you do not help him 
by building up the resistance of the gums against infection. * * * 1. Every 
one should and may have a healthy mouth. 2. Mouth infection is primarily 
due to lack of resistance in the gums. 3. Exercise is the natural way to 
raise resistance, but is usually ineffective because modern food requires so 
little chewing. 4. Cleanliness alone will not protect you against mouth infec- 
tion. 5. Periodontoclasia (pyorrhea) is a complex disease which has four 
stages: Ulatrophia (recession), Gingivitis (inflammation of the gum), Alveolar 
resorption (loosening of the tooth) Pericementoclasia (pus-pocket-formation). 
0. Periodontoclasia can be prevented and can be cured. 7. Whether treatment 
by a dentist is needed or not, proper home treatment is essential to promote 
the health of the mouth. 8. Stimulation of the blood supply by the treatment 
described in this booklet is an effective means of raising resistance against 
infection. 9. Home treatment consists in—First, using Calsodent to neutralize 
the acids which are always found in a diseased mouth. Second, massage of the 
gum margin with Calsodent and the Calsodent tooth brush, as described in 
this booklet. This will provide the necessary stimulation and will clean the 
teeth as well."
On February 29, 1932, no claimant having appeared for the property, judg- 
ment of condemnation and forfeiture was entered, and it was ordered by the 
court that the product be destroyed by the United States marshal.
ABTHTJB M. HYDE, Secretary of Agriculture.