29434. Adulteration and misbranding of Epsom salts.    TT. S. v. 24 Cases of Epsom
Salts. Consent decree of condemnation. Product released under bond 
for relabeling;.     (F. & D. No. 43089.    Sample No. 30412-D.)
This product was sold as Epsom salt, a product which should contain 99.5 
percent of anhydrous magnesium sulphate as required by the test laid down 
in the United States Pharmacopoeia but which contained not more than 
82.56 pereent of anhydrous magnesium sulphate and approximately 14.32 per- 
cent of sodium sulphate when so tested. Furthermore, the labeling bore false 
and fraudulent curative and therapeutic claims.
On August 4, 1938, the United States attorney for the District of Wyoming, 
acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the district court 
a libel praying seizure and condemnation of 24 cases of Epsom salts at 
Cheyenne, Wyo.; alleging that the article had been shipped in interstate com- 
merce on or about February 16, 1938, from Denver, Colo., by Larche Labora- 
tories; and charging adulteration and misbranding in violation of the Food 
and Drugs Act as amended.
The article was alleged to be adulterated in that it differed from the standard 
of strength, quality, and purity as determined by the test laid down in the 
United States Pharmacopoeia and its own standard of strength, quality, and 
purity was not stated on the label.
It was alleged to be misbranded in that the statements, "Epsom Salts 
Magnesium Sulphate * * * Nature Made It Pure * * * Hot concen- 
trated, aqueous solutions of magnesium sulphate * * * are extensively used 
* * * cloths being saturated and applied while hot. The action * * * 
has the advantage of being sterile. These salts are guaranteed to be techni- 
cally pure in every detail," were false and misleading and deceived the 
purchaser thereof since the statements represented that the article was pure 
magnesium sulphate (or magnesium sulfate) and that when used as directed 
it was sterile; whereas it was not pure magnesium sulphate or magnesium 
sulfate since it contained a material portion of sodium sulphate and when 
used as directed, it was not sterile. The article was alleged to be misbranded 
further in that the statement on the label, "Used in the treatment of deep- 
seated infections," falsely and fraudulently represented its curative or thera- 
peutic effect
On August 25, 1938, the Larche Laboratories, Denver, Colo., having con- 
sented to the entry of a decree, judgment of condemnation was entered and 
the product was ordered released under bond conditioned that it be relabeled.
HARRY L. BBOWIT, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.