Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-09-09
GET OFF EASY
Mild Fines For viOldtors of
Pure Food Law.
MAKING II. "HOI" FOR THEM
The Department Of Agriculture and
Courts Impose ''CoEdlgn Pun
ishment" on Those Who
Deal in Dope.

Washington. Sept, g. - More "con
dign punishment has been melted out
to the offenders against the pure food
and drugs act.
Swooping down on the violators oil
the law intended to protect the public
against the doping of food products
and drugs. the department of agricul
ture, aided by the courts. has been
making 1t hot for those malefactors
who have been violating the federal
statutes.
A new lot of notices of Judgment In
pure food and drugs cases has been
given out by the department of agri
culture. They make interesting read
ing. For instance, rheumatics the
country over will hail with delight the
way the government is setting its face
hard against those transgressors who
deal In misbranded cures for rheuma
tism. A case in point comes from the
eastern district of Wisconsin, where
the United States attorney filed iufor
remedy cure which was labeled as
guaranteed to cure the most stubborn
case OF sciatic or muscular rheuma
tism If directions are followed. or the
money refunded. Analysis by the
bureau of chemistry showed the al
legged remedy consisted essentially OF
rhubarb and alcohol and its ingred
tents did not possess the power at
tributed to them. The defendant was
arraigned, pleaded guilty and "a fine
of $40 was imposed and Immediately
paid"
Similar punishment was melted out
to an Illinois company that manufac
tured certain capsules, labeled as a
radical and certain cure for rheuma
tism, positive cure for rheumatism
and the like. 1t was found by the bu
reau of chemistry to be misbranded
and to lack the therapeutic properties
alleged for 1t. Moreover. II was found
to contain chloroform extract The de.
PENDANT in this case pleaded guilty and
was fined $40 and costs
A Chicago concern shipped what
was labeled soda water syrup cola"
which was considered by the bureau
of chemistry to be both adulterated
and misbranded, 1t was found. among
other things, to contain cocaine. The
defendant admitted the charges and
admitted the presence Of the cocaine.
He alleged 1t got in by accident. He
was tried before a Jury and the jury
found he was' not guilty. Y s's
A District of Columbia firm that
had in its possession large quantity
OF rice coated with glucose and tale.
after seizure of the rice, got the goods
back on giving bond OF $170 not to
sell any of 1t contrary to the provis-
ions OF the law.
A Wisconsin company for shipping
misbranded condensed milk was fined
$25.
So-called lithia water was shipped
by party in Waukesha, Wis. which
was labeled as being a cure for rheu.
matism, govt. dropsy and certain other
troubles. 1t was found to contain no
appreciable quantity of ,ithium and
not to contain the therapeutic proper
ties alleged for 1t. A fine OF $25 was
imposed on plea of guilty.
A fine of $50 was imposed on a Mas
of alleged lemon extract and vanilla
extract.
quantity of turpentine, in the pos
session of a. d. Gilman, OF Washing
ton. found to be adulterated and mis-
branded, was condemned and ordered
destroyed.
One of the most important cases
which have been up before the depart
ment of agriculture for long time
relates to 443 cans of frozen egg pro-
duct in the possession OF the Mer-
chants Refrigerating company, of Jer.
sey City. Examinations by the bureau
of chemistry of samples showed 1t TO
contain added sugar and 100000 or
ganisms per gram, 100000 of the or
ganisms being of the gas-producing
type The government charged the
substance in whole or part was decom
posed
Federal Judge Cross dismissed the
libel and held that the government
had not proven its case The product
Was I1iSaoSu W thc Ni~ih"H>o- $40
government has appealed The case Is
important by reason of the large num-
Der of cases arising under the pure
food law involving frozen egg product,
which Is a patented substance.
Several other cases are included In
the list of notices of judgment, In
none OF which are severe penalties in;
iicted
Secretary Meyer In London.