19392. Adulteration and Misbranding of phenolphthalein wafers, eholeate 
compound tablets, triple bromide tablets, neuralgia grippe 
tablets, quinine sulphate tablets, acid aeetylsalicylic capsules, 
gastric ulcer (Sippy-* tablets, and elixir rheumatico. IT. S. v. 
The Vale Chemical Co. Plea of guilty. Fine, S500. (F. & D. No. 
26695. I. S. Nos. 5128, 27835, 28064, 29105, 29116, 29117, 29701, 29702, 
29704, 29705.)
This action was based on the shipment of various drug preparations. In 
each instance analysis showed that the article contained one or more of the 
declared drugs in amount varying materially from the amount stated on the 
label, some drugs being present in less amount and some in greater. The labels 
of the neuralgia grippe tablets, the gastric ulcer (Sippy) tablets, and the elixir 
rheumatico also bore unwarranted curative and therapeutic claims.
On March 21, 1932, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of 
Pennsylvania, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in 
the District Court of the United States for said district an information against 
the Vale Chemical Co., a corporation, Allentown, Pa., alleging shipment by said 
company from the State of Pennsylvania into the State of New Jersey, between 
the dates of May 3, 1930 and March 24, 1931, of quantities of pharmaceutical 
preparations that were adulterated and misbranded.
The articles were labeled in part: " Wafers Phenolphthalein 1 Grain;" 
" Tablets Choleate Comp. * * * Sodium Salicylate 1% grs.;" " Tablets 
Triple Bromides * * * Potass. Bromide 5 grs. Ammo. Bromide 5 grs. Soda 
Bromide 5 grs.;" " Neuralgia Grippe Strop. Salicylate 2% grs. Acetanilide 2% 
grs.;" "Acetanilide and Soda Comp. * * * Acetanilide 3% grs., * * * 
Sodium Bromide 1/10 gr.;" " Quinine Sulphate * * * 2 grs.;" " Capsules 
Acid Acetyl Salicylic 5 grains;" "Gastric Ulcer * * * Magnesium Cal- 
cined 5 gr., Soda Bicarb. 5 gr.;" " Elixir Rheumatico * * * Each ounce 
contains Sodium Salicylate 38 Grs. * * * Indicated: In Rheumatism, Sci- 
atica, Laetrile   *    *    *   The Vale Chemical Co. Inc., Allentown, Pa."
It was alleged in the information that the articles were adulterated in that 
their strength and purity fell below the professed standard and quality under 
which they were sold, as follows: Each phenolphthalein wafer was represented 
to contain 1 grain of phenolphthalein, whereas they each contained more, 
namely, not less than 1.088 grain of phenolphthalein. Each choleat com- 
pound tablet was represented to contain 1% grains of sodium salicylate, whereas 
each contained less, namely, not more than 1.336 grains of sodium salicylate. 
Each triple bromide tablet was represented to contain 5 grains of potassium 
bromide, 5 grains of ammonium bromide, and 5 grains of sodium bromide, 
whereas each contained more of the said bromides, namely, not less than 5.854 
grains of ammonium bromide, and not less than 11.13 grains of sodium bromide 
and potassium bromide combined. Each of the neuralgia grippe tablets was 
represented to contain 2% grains of strontium salicylate and 2% grains of 
acetanilide whereas the said tablets each contained less of the said drugs, the 
two consignments containing not more than 2.196 and 2.106 grains, respec-
tively, of strontium salicylate and 2.114 grains of acetanilide. Each of the 
acetanilid and sodium compound tablets was represented to contain 3% grains 
of acetanilide and & grain of sodium bromide, whereas the said tablets each 
contained less than so represented, namely, not more than 2.842 grains of 
acetanilide and not more than 0.0766 grain of sodium bromide. Each quinine 
sulphate tablet was represented to contain 2 grains of quinine sulphate, whereas 
the said tablets each contained less than so represented, namely, not more than 
1.73 grains of quinine sulphate. Each acid acetylsalicylic capsule was repre- 
sented to contain 5 grains of acid acetylsalicylic, whereas the said capsules 
each contained not more than 4.157 grains of said acetylsalicylate. Each of 
the gastric ulcer (Sippy) tablets was represented to contain 5 grains of mag- 
nesium calcined and 5 grains -of soda bicarbonate, whereas the said tablets 
each contained less of the said drugs than so represented, namely, not more 
than 3.997 grains of calcined magnesium, and not more than 3.514 grains of 
soda bicarbonate. And each fluid ounce of the elixir rheumatico was repre- 
sented to contain 38 grains of sodium salicylate, whereas each fluid ounce 
of the article contained more than so represented, namely, not less than 41.26 
grains of sodium salicylate.
Misbranding was alleged for the reason that the following statements borne 
on the labels of the articles, " Phenolphthalein 1 grain," " Tablets * * * 
Sodium Salicylate 1% grs.," " Tablets * * * Potass. Bromide 5 grs., Ammo. 
Bromide 5 grs., Soda Bromide, 5 grs.," " Strop. Salicylate, 2% grs., Acetanilide 
2% grs.," "Acetanilide, 3% grs. * * * Sodium Bromide TV gr.," " Quinine 
Sulphate * * * 2 grs.," " Capsules Acid Acetyl Salicylic 5 grains," " Mag- 
nesium Calcined 5 gr., Soda Bicarb. 5 gr.," and " Each ounce contains Sodium 
Salicylate 38 grs." (with respect to the elixir rheumatico) were false and 
misleading, since the articles in certain instances contained less of the said 
drugs than declared in the label, and in certain instances contained more of 
the drugs than so declared. Misbranding was alleged with respect to three of 
the said drug preparations for the further reason that certain statements, 
designs, and devices appearing on the labels were false and fraudulent, the 
labeling of the so-called neuralgia grippe tablets representing that the article 
was effective as a treatment, remedy, and cure for la grippe, grippe, and rheu- 
matism, the labeling of the magnesium and soda bicarbonate tablets repre- 
senting that the article was effective as a treatment, remedy, and cure for gas- 
tric ulcer, and the labeling of the said elixir rheumatico representing that the 
article was effective as a treatment, remedy, and cure for rheumatism, sciatica, 
and la grippe; whereas the said articles contained no ingredients or medicinal 
agents effective to produce the effects claimed, i. e., the so-called neuralgia 
grippe tablets would not be effective as a treatment, remedy, and cure for la 
grippe, grippe, or rheumatism; the said magnesium soda bicarbonate tablets 
would not be effective as a treatment, remedy, and cure for gastric ulcer; 
and the said elixir rheumatico would not be effective as a treatment, remedy, 
and cure for rheumatism, sciatica, and la grippe.
On June 14, 1932, a plea of guilty to the information was entered on behalf 
of the defendant company, and the court imposed a fine of $500.
AETHTJE M. HYDE, Secretary of Agriculture.