17620. Misbranding of Alvita tablets. V. S. v. 5% Dozen Packages of Alvita 
Tablets. Default decree of condemnation, forfeiture, and destruc- 
tion.     (F, & D. No. 24213.    I. S. No. 011257.    S. No. 2450.)
An examination of a drug product known as Alvita tablets from the herein 
described interstate shipment having shown that the labels bore curative and 
therapeutic claims which were not justified by its composition, the Secretary 
of Agriculture reported the facts to the United States attorney for the District 
of Colorado;
On November 16, 1929, the United States attorney filed in the District Court 
of the United States for the said district a report praying seizure and con- 
demnation of 5% dozen packages of Alvita tablets, remaining in the original 
unbroken packages at Denver, Colo., consigned by the California Alfalfa 
Products Co., Lamanda Park, Calif., alleging that the article had been shipped 
in interstate commerce from Lamanda Park, Calif., into the State of Colorado 
on or about September 10, 1929, 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 the tablets* 
contained an extract of plant material, traces of sassafras and celery oils, and 
starch, coated with calcinm carbonate and colored brown.
It was alleged in the libel that the article was misbranded in that the 
following statements appearing on the packages and in the printed matter 
accompanying the said article, regarding its curative and therapeutic effects,, 
were false and fraudulent, since it contained no ingredient or combination of 
ingredients capable of producing the effects claimed: (Display carton) "Tonie 
Tablets   *    *    *   To be used in the treatment of Kidney, Liver and Bladder
Ailments, Prostate Gland trouble, Rheumatism and a general Tonic for run 
down condition; " (black and red folder) " Protection * * * No one chooses ( 
deliberately to be ill, but many continue to suffer who might be well. Polks 
often overlook the fact, that given half a chance, Nature will effect her own 
cures. Many are prone to dope the nostrums and try questionable methods 
when proven means prevail. Alvita Products help nature to do this in her 
own way, by providing the essential minerals for the building of new tissue.
* * * Thousands tell of Bladder Weakness, lack of 'Pep' and a general 
run down condition yielding quickly to Alvita Tea and Alvita Tablets;" 
<yellow booklet) " It Costs Less to * Keep Well' * * * I first secured some 
Alfalfa and cured it in a certain way and used it in my home as a table tea.
* * * I gave some of it to a doctor friend in my home town. He was at 
the time suffering with an acute attack of lumbago. The tea cured his troubles 
?over night. * * * He gave some tea to an old mining friend * * * who 
was badly crippled with miner's rheumatism. The old man, to his great 
.surprise, got the kinks out of his bones and ' got young again,' as he expressed 
it. My doctor friend was called out one night to see a young woman patient 
?who was dying with dropsy. The Alfalfa tea was made strong and given to 
her in frequent doses.   In a week the woman was   *   *   *   entirely well.
* * * A * * * ujan * * * wanted to know if Alfalfa would cure 
his prostatic trouble-getting up frequently at nights. He got a bag of the 
tea and on the fourth day eame back and told me he had slept all through the 
previous night. * * * He had been doctoring for ten years for his trouble 
and our Alfalfa tea cured him in four days.   *   *   *   I heard of an old man,
* * * who was helpless with hardening of the arteries. I called, with my 
bag of tea, and persuaded the good wife to make a brew and give it to him 
every two hours. In fifteen days, he drove his own car to my laboratory in 
the city to get some more tea and told me he felt twenty-five years younger, 
and he certainly looked it.' * * * three remarkable cures from the tea 
test-a young lad with a tubercular condition of the knee joint; a dropsy case 
in a woman and a woman in the first stages of consumption   *    *    *   The tea
* *   *   stopped   his   bladder   trouble   *   *   *   A   large   family   of   boils.
* *   *   magic Alfalfa tea  and  that was the end of the blood disorder.
* * * The actual cures of so many different kinds of trouble convinced 
me that Alfalfa had several properties not given to other plants. * * * A 
large dose at night, other symptoms calling for it, produces a good night's 
rest. * * * In one case there was a disappearance of swelling of the 
milk glands. * * * gave the remedy freely to mothers who are insuffi- 
ciently nourished and secreted but little milk or milk devoid of its nutritious 
properties for the child. In every case so administered, the patient showed a 
satisfactory increase in flesh and strength. The digestive apparatus, whatever 
the disorder, assumed its normal function * * * preserve an excellent con- 
dition of the stomach. With one woman who in three previous births had had 
kidney complications with uremia, he preserved with this agent a normal 
condition of all functions through the pregnancy and labor. He finds Alfalfa 
a superlative tonic, * * * It rejuvenates the whole system by increasing 
the strength, vim, vigor and vitality of the patient. In all cases the over- 
marked condition calling for the remedy is despondency along with loss of 
flesh, whether the case is one of stomach trouble, such as indigestion, dyspepsia, 
general and nervous debility, anemia, marasmus, loss of appetite and poor 
assinrilation as shown by loss of flesh and constipation with the always accom- 
panying condition, depression. * * * One physician prescribed it where 
there was a dropsical effusion, where the kidneys were inactive and the skin 
dry, and in every case so administered, it gave satisfactory results. In old 
men, it relieves prostatic irritation. It relieves conditions of the urinary 
apparatus. Dr. Houts cured backaches where the patient was passing a small 
?quantity of urine with high specific gravity, especially where there was rheu- 
matic conditions with much muscular aching with excessive quantity of urates 
and uric acid. * * * It is an excellent antiacid agent * * * Eminent 
Dietician Has Proven That Alvita Tea Is Practically Infallible as a Milk 
Producer and General Tonic in Maternity Cases. * * * Many of the cases 
I get are practically invalids when I am called. One recent case had pernicious 
anemia. The previous condition of the mother appears to make little differ- 
ence. All cases have come through in first class condition. As a milk producer 
and general tonic in maternity cases Alfalfa Tea is practically infallible. In 
a few cases it has been added to the diet after the child was born also with 
gratifying results; but to insure success and a perfectly healthy child I prefer
to have,the care of the mother at least five months before delivery. I have 
used Alfalfa Tea in many other conditions. While here it cannot be called 
an absolute specific as it may well be called in maternity cases, it has proved 
to be of great value in * * * tuberculosis, Bright's disease, colitis, and 
all disorders where the addition of leafy vegetables is indicated. I have used 
an infusion of 1 oz. alfalfa, 1 oz. mullein leaves, 1 oz. dandelion root, y2 oz. 
culvers root, % oz. boneset, flavored with fennel and sweetened with sorghum 
or honey as a * * * tonic in many cases of digestive disorders, with good 
results. I have used this * * * tonic combination with buchu in several 
cases of Bright's disease and prostatic hyperthropy with gradual improve- 
ment. One of my latest eases was almost at death's door with prostatic trouble 
and catarrh of the bladder.   He is now up and around and still improving.
* * * Vitamin B-Obtained from Alfalfa Successful in Diabetes. * * * 
A new treatment for diabetes, * * * was announced * * * believe 
vitamin ' B' extract, * * * not only has the same property of controlling 
diabetes as insulin, but} likewise has curative properties. Vitamin ' B' is ob- 
tained from alfalfa * * * used vitamin ' B' extract in diabetes cases with 
quick and favorable results, and in a number of cases was able to stop treat- 
ments and report his patients cured, at least temporarily. * * * I have 
been bothered a great deal with indigestion. After each meal the food seemed 
to lie in my stomach like a ball of undigested, fermented stuff which gave me 
considerable distress. There is some sort of medicinal property in Alvita Tab- 
lets that aids digestion wonderfully. * * * Why Many Men Are Old at Forty 
A Startling Fact! Many medical authorities have long claimed that 65% of all 
men past middle age have prostate trouble. Thousands have it without the 
least idea in the world that there is such a thing as the prostate gland. Hence 
the sexual life, the efficiency, the mental serenity of thousands is being 
deteriorated, often without their knowledge. * * * Since the disease is 
often caused and maintained by reason of an acid or inflamed condition of the 
prostate gland itself which nearly always extends into the bladder, the natural 
and simple remedy would be something that would remove and relieve the 
unnatural condition that causes the inflammation. * * * people have been 
greatly benefitted and cured from the dreaded Prostate gland trouble by taking 
'Alvita' Tablets and 'Alvita' Tea. * * * I had severe prostate and bladder 
trouble causing me to urinate from 10 to 20 times a night with 'some pain.
* * * I began taking Alvita Tablets and in less than a month I was entirely 
cured and have been entirely relieved since that time. But still take them as 
a tonic. * * * Alvita Tablets * * * agent in the correction of bad 
condition * * * people use an excess of acid foods, in consequence suffer 
with * * * catarrh, hay fever, rheumatism, etc. Alfalfa products are 
strongly alkaline * * * Have had splendid results from the tablets in 
kidney and bladder troubles. * * * my clientele is getting, thru the use 
of Alvita products, the minerals, limes and salts which are so essential to 
Health. 1 find your products a * * * fine body tonic for everyone in 
general. T have small children using Alvita Products in cases of nocturnal 
enuresis, and older people using; them for bladder and kidney disorders, and 
they are reporting excellent results. * * * such worthy products as those 
put out by your Company * * * are doing much for the sick. * * * 
Your Health Is Your Most Precious Possession. You Must Keep Well if 
You Expect to Achieve the Success you Have Planned * * * Alvita Rejuve- 
nating Tablets * * * 'Alvita' Tablets contain the health giving sub- 
stances * * * Alvita Tablets are a treatment for Rejuvenating your whole 
system if you are in a run-down condition caused from Kidney or Bladder 
trouble, inability of the stomach to assimilate food, prostatic irritation, irritable 
condition of the urinary organs, lack of appetite, or continual loss of weight. 
Thousands tell of Bladder weakness and lack of Pep yielding quickly to Alvita 
Tablets. * * * I have been troubled for several years with bladder in- 
flammation and when I sent for Alvita was unable to work and did not know 
if I ever would run an engine again. I could not stay in bed nights, as I 
was worse lying down than at any other time. I have been up 25 to 30 times 
in six to eight hours. Forty-eight hours after I began taking Alvita tablets 
I was almost normal and in four days went to work and at present feel per- 
fectly well. * * * is 79 years old and has been troubled with getting 'ip 
nights (sometimes ten or twelve times) for a good many years. Also with 
cold sweats. After using two boxes of your Tablets he doesn't have to get 
up nights and hasn't had any cold sweats for over two weeks. * * * Pros- 
tatic Trouble Vanishes    *    *    *   I had a stroke of apoplexy three years ago
and was paralyzed in my right side. I had taken almost everything for my 
prostate gland trouble and the pain from urinating was so great that I could 
hardly stand it.   *   *   *   your Alvita Tablets.   From the first day's treatment
1 began feeling better. I had to get up from three to seven times a night. I 
have taken a box and a half of the Alvita Tablets and now do not get up 
more than once a night and pain is all gone. * * * It surely does help one 
so much.   I wish I could let all who are suffering know of this great remedy.
* * * In bladder and prostate conditions thei relief was very noticeable in 
each case and up to this time has continued. I found them good in aiding 
digestion; also constipation and in general run-down conditions."
On June 10, 1930, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgment 
of condemnation and forfeiture was entered, and it was ordered by the court 
that the product be destroyed by the United States marshal.
AETHTTB M. HYDE, Secretary of Agriculture.