30025. Adulteration and misbranding of camphorated oil and Laxative Head 
Cold Tablets and misbranding of Hygienic Month Wash and "Vapor 
Balm. U. S. v. Mother Hubbard Products Co., Inc., Milton M. Baldock, 
and Richard H. Lingrott.    Pleas  of guilty.    Fine, $200.     (P.  & D. No.
42593.   Sample Nos. 21923-D, 21924-D, 21926-D, 21927-D.)
This case involved mouthwash which contained undeclared alcohol and which 
bore on its label false and fraudulent curative and therapeutic claims; camphor- 
ated oil which differed from the standard prescribed by the United States 
Pharmacopoeia and which bore on its label false and fraudulent curative and 
therapeutic claims; cold tablets which contained less acetanilide than declared and 
which were falsely represented to be harmless; and Vapor Balm the labeling of 
which bore false and fraudulent therapeutic and curative claims.
On November 4, 1938, the United States attorney for the Northern District of 
Illinois, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the district 
court an information against the Mother Hubbard Products Co., Inc., Chicago, 
111., and Milton M. Baldock, and Richard H. Lingott, alleging shipment by said 
defendants in violation of the Food and Drugs act as amended, on or about April 
18, 1938, from the State of Illinois into the State of Indiana, of quantities of 
the hereinafter-described drug products which were misbranded and portions 
of which also were adulterated.
Certain of the products were labeled: "Hygienic Mouth Wash and Throat 
Gargle [or "Mother Hubbard Camphorated Oil" or "Mother Hubbard Remedies 
Laxative Head-Cold Tablets"] * * * Mother Hubbard Products Co." One 
product was labeled: "Vapor Balm * * * Manufactured by G. A. Goodrich 
Co., Chicago."
Analysis showed that the mouthwash consisted essentially of zinc chloride, 
glycerin, alcohol (2.7 percent by volume), and water flavored with oil of cinna- 
mon ; that the camphorated oil contained less than 19 percent of camphor, namely, 
not more than 10.6 percent of camphor; that the Vapor Balm consisted essentially 
of volatile oils including menthol and methyl salicylate incorporated in a 
petrolatum base; and that the cold tablets contained less than 2 grains, namely, 
not more than 0.913 grain of acetanilide per tablet.
The mouthwash was alleged to be misbranded in that it contained 2.7 percent 
of alcohol by volume and its package, namely, the bottle, failed to bear a state- 
ment on the label of the quantity or proportion of alcohol contained in it. It was 
alleged to be misbranded further in that certain statements on the bottle label 
regarding its curative and therapeutic effects falsely and fraudulently represented 
that it was effective in the treatment of bad breath, sore throat, tonsillitis, tender 
gums, hoarseness, bad-teeth odors, mouth sores, and pyorrhea.
The camphorated oil was alleged to be adulterated in that it was sold under 
a name, camphorated oil, a synonym of a name recognized in the United States 
Pharmacopoeia, namely, camphor liniment; that the standard of strength, quality, 
and purity of camphor liniment as determined by the tests laid down by the 
pharmacopoeia required that the article contain in each 100 grams not less than 
19 percent of camphor; whereas the article contained not more than 10.6 percent 
of camphor, and its own standard of strength, quality, and purity was not stated 
on the label. It was alleged to be misbranded in that certain statements on the 
bottle label regarding its curative and therapeutic effects falsely and fraudu- 
lently represented that it was effective as a treatment for croop and asthma.
The cold tablets were alleged to be adulterated in that their strength and 
purity fell below the professed standard and quality under which they were 
sold in that they were labeled "Each tablet contains 2 grains acetanilide"; 
whereas each tablet contained not more than 0.9 grain of acetanilide. They were 
alleged to be misbranded in that the statements, "Each tablet contains 2 grains 
acetanilide * * * They do not contain harmful habit-forming drugs," were 
false and misleading since each tablet contained not more than 0.9 grain of 
acetanilide and the article .contained a harmful habit-forming drug, namely, 
acetanilide.
The Vapor Balm was alleged to be misbranded in that certain statements 
on the jar label and in the circular shipped therewith, regarding its curative 
and therapeutic effects, falsely and fraudulently represented that it was effec- 
tive when used as a liniment or dressing for bruises, swellings, headaches, 
severe muscular pain, or a chronic condition of irritation; effective to cause
easier breathing thereby inducing sleep and helping to prevent night coughs; 
effective in the treatment of throat irritations, chest colds, raw air passages, dry 
hacking cough conditions, indicated by mucus or phlegm, and hoarse coughs; 
effective to prevent coughing if rubbed thoroughly on the throat and chest; and 
to cure tightness or muscular soreness; effective in the treatment of rheumatism, 
chest colds and congestion; and that it was effective to prevent, allay, and cure 
pain.
On December 27, 1938, pleas of guilty having been entered, the court imposed 
a fine of $200, which was levied jointly against the defendants.
HARRY L. BROWN, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.