2170. Misbranding of Devonshire's Earth Salts.   U. S. v. Harry C. Johnson (F. S.
Powers & Company).    Plea of guilty.    Fine, $20.     (F. D. C. No. 14238.
Sample Nos. 8429-F, 8430-F.)
INFORMATION FILED : June 13, 1945, Northern District of Illinois, against Harry
C. Johnson, trading as F. S. Powers & Company, Crystal Lake, 111.
ALLEGED SHIPMENT: On or about February 17 and March 18, 1944, from the
State of Illinois into the State of Wisconsin.
PRODUCT: Analyses disclosed that the product was a fine white powder consist-
ing essentially of carbonates, phosphates, chlorides, sulfates of calcium, sodium,
magnesium, and iron, and small amounts of free sulfur, silica, and fluorine
compounds.
NATURE OF CHARGE: Misbranding, Section 502 (a), certain statements in accom-
panying circulars entitled "Devonshire's Earth Salts Mineral Elements" and
"Devonshire's Earth Salts Mineral Elements a Compound of the Life Giving
Mineral Elements of Mother Nature" were false and misleading in that they
represented and suggested that the article would be efficacious in the cure,
mitigation, treatment, and prevention of appendicitis, trench mouth, skin
disorders, sinus disorders, stomach troubles, a run-down condition, Bright's
disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, poor eyesight, kidney trouble, backache,
dizzy spells, swelling in legs, brown spots on the face, colitis, sinus headache,
neuritis, rheumatism, an anemic condition, gall-bladder trouble, palpitation
of the heart, leakage of the heart, breaking out of the face, bad condition of
stomach and bowels, eczema, boils, and periodic pains; that it would be
effective as a body builder; that it would supply pep, increase weight, strengthen
the body, increase vitality and energy, cure anyone who was ill, clean and
strengthen the system, prevent colds, renew health, give life, prevent and
remedy abnormal disease conditions which cause untold suffering and misery
to the human race, help the body wage its war against disease, and cure the
sick; and that it would be beneficial for relief in treating rheumatism, lumbago,
sciatica, neuritis, intestinal disorders, kidneys, spleen, liver, bladder, diabetes,
goiter, gall trouble, skin disorders, eczema, stomach ulcers, nervous disease,
and bronchitis. The article would not be efficacious for the purposes repre-
sented.
DISPOSITION : January 27, 1947. At the request of the defendant, the case was
transferred for plea to the Southern District of California. Thereafter, a plea
of guilty was entered and the court imposed a fine of $10 on each of the 2
counts of the information.