18332. Misbranding of Ketterer's Excelsior Mood purifier. U. S. v. 17 
Dozen Bottles of Ketterer's Excelsior Blood Purifier. Default: 
order of destruction.    (F. & D. No. 25545.    I. S. No. 7458.    S. No. 3807.)
Examination of a drug product, known as Ketterer's Excelsior blood purifier, 
from the shipment herein described having shown that the bottle and carton 
labels and the accompanying circular bore statements representing that the 
article possessed curative and therapeutic properties which it did not possess, 
also that the labels represented it to be a vegetable compound, whereas it was 
not, the Secretarv of Agriculture reported the matter to the United States 
attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.
On or about December 23, 1930, the United States attorney filed in tjie 
District Court of the United States for the district aforesaid a libel praying 
seizure and condemnation of 17 dozen bottles of Ketterer's Excelsior blood 
purifier, remaining in the original unbroken packages at Vicksburg, Miss., 
alleging that the article had been shipped by the Waco Drug Co., Waco, Tex., 
on or about November 6, 1929, and had been transported from the State of 
Texas into the State of Mississippi, 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 it con- 
sisted essentially of 2 per cent of potassium carbonate and potassium nitrate, 
extracts of plant drugs including a laxative drug, alcohol, and water.
It was alleged in the libel that the article was misbranded in that the 
following statements appearing on the bottle and carton labels and in the 
circular, were false and misleading: (Bottle) "This medicine is purely 
Vegetable, is composed of the Roots and Herbs of Southeast Georgia and 
Florida;" (circular) "Made from nature's Herbs;" (carton) "Made from 
Roots and Herbs." Misbranding was alleged for the further reason that the 
following statements, appearing on the bottle and carton labels and in the 
circular, were false and fraudulent, since the article contained no ingredient 
or combination of ingredients capable of producing the effects claimed: (Bottle) 
" Blood Purifier a Remedy for all Diseases of the Blood, Syphilis, Rheumatism, 
Malaria and Neuralgia, Ulcers and Bleeding or Itching Piles, Removes Pimples, 
Cleanses and Beautifies the Complexion, Relieves Indigestion;" (carton) 
" Blood Purifier * * * It Beautifies the Complexion. It makes sick people 
well. It makes old people feel young again. It is sold on a guarantee and 
does just what we say. Blood Poisoning from whatever origin yields to its 
powerful, cleansing, purifying, vitalizing effect upon the blood. One bottle 
will remove pimples from the face. A remedy for Blood Poison, Impure 
Blood, Salt Rheum, Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Ulcers, Ring Worm, Nervous 
Debility, Sleeplessness, Hysteria, Kidney Trouble, Eczema, and all other Blood 
Diseases. A Specific Guaranteed Cure for Syphilis. * * * Guaranteed 
Remedy for all Blood Diseases;" (circular) "Blood Purifier   *   *   *   Cures
Blood Poison, Ulcers, Nervous Debility, Eczema, Kidney Troubles, and all other 
Blood Diseases. A Splendid Tonic. A specific remedy for all female troubles. 
* * * Serious Blood Poisons require six bottles to cure. * * * Blood 
Purifier For all disorders of the Blood."
On May 21, 1931, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgment 
was entered finding the product subject to confiscation and forfeiture, and it 
was ordered by the court that it be destroyed by the United States marshal.
AETHTTB M. HYDE, Secretary of Affriculture.