26761. Misbranding of  Bowman's Red Lax-Tiv.     U.  S. v.  35 Dozen Bottles  of
Bowman's Red Lax-Tiv.    Default decree of condemnation and destruc- 
tion.    (F. & D. no. 37748.    Sample no. 68233-B.)
The packages of this product contained false and fraudulent representations 
regarding its curative or therapeutic effects.
On or about May 21, 1936, the United States attorney for the Southern 
District of Indiana, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, 
filed in the district court a libel praying seizure and condemnation of 35 dozen 
bottles of Bowman's Red Lax-Tiv at Richmond, Ind., alleging that the article 
had been shipped in interstate commerce on or about February 29, 1936, by 
the Bowman Bros. Drug Co., from Canton, Ohio, and that it was misbranded in 
violation of the Food and Drugs Act as amended.
Analysis of the article showed that it consisted essentially of emodin- 
bearing drugs and aloe.
The article was alleged to be misbranded in that the following statements, 
contained in a circular enclosed in the package, falsely and fraudulently repre- 
sented that it was capable of producing the curative or therapeutic effect 
claimed in said statements: "The Pleasant Road to Health—Are you Sick- 
Lots of folks are, men, women, and children; and statistics show that about 
seventy-five percent of ordinary sickness can be traced either directly or in- 
directly to constipation which has become almost a national menace. When 
the muscles of the lower bowel fail to work, then the waste matter that has 
rested there becomes a fermenting mass of poisons which are then thrown 
back into the blood stream. This opens the body to all kinds of disease— 
adults become tired, nervous and ill tempered. Headaches and many other 
aches due to a poisoned blood stream, prevail. Appetite is lost and the entire 
system is open to most any germ that may attack it. Children become fretful, 
puny and feverish, making life miserable for themselves and parents.    Want
to keep well? Most folks do. Then the best plan is to head off a large per 
cent of sickness by avoiding constipation. When this reeking poisonous mass 
of waste matter caused by constipation begins to cast off its poisons, these 
muscles of the lower bowel must be relaxed and the waste matter removed 
and cleaned out. This usually gives quick relief. There are many medicines 
for this purpose, most of them harsh and destructive in their action. How- 
ever, a new modern Scientific Remedy is now at your service—that puts you 
back in Health Land over a pleasant Path. Use Bowman's Red Lax-Tiv Pills. 
They exert a healthy tonic-like action on the liver and bowel."
On July 25, 1936, no claimant having appeared, judgment of condemnation 
was entered and it was ordered that the product be destroyed.
W. R. GREGG, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.