21559. Misbranding of  Texas Mineral  Crystals.     V.  S.  v.  70  Boxes,  et  al., 
of    Texas     Mineral    Crystals.    Decrees    of    destruction    entered.
(F. & D. nos. 30708, 30775, 30776.    Samples nos. 42786-A, 42787-A, 57456-A.)
Examination of samples of Texas Mineral Crystals disclosed that the article 
contained no ingredient or combination of ingredients capable of producing 
certain curative and therapeutic effects claimed on the carton label and in a 
circular shipped with the article.
On July 10 and July 28, 1933, the United States attorney for the Western 
District of Missouri, acting upon reports by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed 
in the district court libels praying seizure and condemnation of 136 boxes of 
Texas Mineral Crystals at Kansas City, Mo., alleging that the article had been 
shipped in interstate commerce in part on or about June 8, 1933, by the "Wal- 
green Co., from Chicago, Ill., and in part on or about June 10 and July 3, 
1933, by the Dollar Crystal Co., from Omaha, Nebr., 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 crystallized sodium sulphate with small proportions of 
magnesium sulphate and sodium chloride.
It was alleged in the libels that the article was misbranded in that the fol- 
lowing statements regarding the curative and therapeutic effects of the article, 
appearing in the labeling, were false and fraudulent: (Circular, one lot) "Con- 
stipation * * * Promote eliminative Processes *• * * Repeat daily until 
elimination becomes regular. Rheumatism—Take a little more than % teaspoon 
of Texas Crystals in a large glass of water (preferably hot) half hour before 
breakfast. Repeat this 2 or" 3 times a week. Put one full teaspoon into quart 
of water and drink during the day (preferably cold). Colds", (carton, all 
lots) "Health is "Wealth", (circular, all lots) "Rheumatism. Repeat each 
morning until system is free from poisons. * * * It will cleanse the intes- 
tines promptly, clear the blood stream of poisons and neutralize acidity; it will 
* * * assist the liver and kidney to resume their normal functions, thus 
keeping the system in a healthy condition and defeating many of the most 
common ills of life. Rheumatism, auto-intoxication, Gastro-intestinal troubles, 
rebellious skin diseases, neuritis, high blood pressure, etc., resist the best ther- 
apeutic endeavors until the organs of elimination are caused to function 
efficiently."
The Dollar Crystal Co., Omaha, Nebr., filed a claim for 70 packages of the 
product admitting the allegations of the libel and consenting to the entry of 
a decree. On August 3, 1933, a decree of condemnation was entered against the 
said 70 packages containing a provision that the product might be taken down 
under bond to be properly labeled. The claimant, however, consented to the 
destruction of the product in this case and defaulted in the remaining cases. 
On September 25, October 25, and November 18, 1933, decrees were entered on 
all cases ordering the product destroyed.
M. L. "WILSON, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.