28312. Adulteration of potassium arsenlte tablets and misbranding1 of atropine
sulphate tablets.     U. S. v. Direct Sales Co.     Plea of guilty.     Fine, $300.
(F. & D. No. 38599.    Sample Nos. 67717-B, 5711-C.)
This case involved atropine sulphate tablets which contained an excess of 
atropine sulphate, and potassium arsenite tablets which were deficient in 
potassium arsenite.
On January 11, 1937, the United States attorney for the Western District of 
New York, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
district court an information against the Direct Sales Co., a corporation, Buffalo, 
N. Y., alleging shipment by said company in violation of the Food and Drugs 
Act, on or about April 13 and June 13, 1936, from the State of New York 
into the States of Pennsylvania and Illinois of quantities of atropine 
sulphate tablets and potassium arsenite tablets, respectively, of which the 
former was misbranded and the latter was adulterated. The articles were 
labeled: "Hypodermic Tablets Atropine Sulphate 1/120 Grain;" "Potassium 
Arsenite (Fowler's Solution) 5 minims." Both were labeled further: "Manu- 
factured by Direct Sales Co., Inc., N. Y."
The potassium arsenite tablets were alleged to be adulterated in that their 
strength fell below the professed standard under which they were sold in that 
they were labeled, "Tablets Potassium Arsenite (Fowler's Solution) 5 minims 
C T," whereas they contained potassium arsenite equivalent to less than 5 
minims of Fowler's solution each, namely, 3.7 minims of Fowler's solution per 
tablet.
The atropine sulphate tablets were alleged to be misbranded in that the state- 
ments "Hypodermic Tablets Atropine Sulphate 1/120 Grain" were false and 
misleading since they represented that each of the tablets contained 1/120 
grain of atropine sulphate, whereas they contained more than so represented, 
namely, not less than 0.0099 grain, i. e., approximately 1/100 grain of atropine 
sulphate per tablet.
On December 6, 1937, a plea of guilty was entered on behalf of the defendant 
and on December 16 a fine of $300 was imposed.
HARRY L. BROWN, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.