When Herbal Medicine Was Illegal: Alta C. Meskell, 1943
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When Herbal Medicine Was Illegal:
Alta C. Meskell, 1943
This is the story of Alta Cedalia Earon Meskell, an enterprising female herbalist of the early to mid 20th century, as best i can research it through the internet after 80-90 years. She called herself both an "Indian Herbalist" and a "Physician" and she was busted by the United States Food and Drug Administration at least twice, for growing, preparing, and selling traditional American herbal remedies. On the U.S. Federal Census, her race -- that is, her skin colour -- was given as "white," so i don't know if she was of partial Native American descent or if to her the word "Indian" simply referred to her use of local and native herbs. I am pretty sure that she was a "Physician" only in the practical sense, in that she diagnosed, treated, and cured people, and dispensed medicines for them, without benefit of an official license. She also owned two rare Mexican parrots, Mike and Biddy ... but more of that later.
Usually when i write up the stories of how hoodoo and Native American herbology and folk magic have been declared illegal by the United States Government, i start with the arrest and the evidence, and proceed through the verdict to the sentencing. This time, however, i am going to follow Alta C. Meskell's life, as recorded in contemporary newspapers, in the years prior to her arrest for dealing in Native Herbs.
As noted in the 1940 Federal Census, Mrs. Meskell was probably born in 1875. Her maiden name is unknown to me, but i do know that Meskell was her husband's surname, because at that point she lived in a household with her retired brother-in-law, and his surname was Meskell. He was her husband's brother.
I was able to extensively document her existence from 1935 to 1949, from the ages of 60 to 74. During that time Alta Meskell made her home in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, but she also travelled around her local region every summer, selling herbs and herbal remedies at various venues, including private homes and a tourist lodge.
January, 1875
Alta Cedalia Earon was born to Henry D. Earon and Malinda M Earon on January 11th, 1875, in Clinton County, Pennsylvania. She was a Capricorn.
April, 1900
In the U.S. Federal Census of 1900, Alta and her new husband Frank Meskell were living in Union Township, Fayette County, Iowa. This was her husband's home territory, and she had moved there to be with him, where he worked as a farmer. They had a less than one-month old daughter, Mary L. Meskell, born in April. This child was soon to be known as Mary Lola, Lola M., or Lola S. Meskell. Lola's birthdate was April 17th, 1900 and on her death records it is stated that she was born in Oelwein, Fayette County, Iowa.
April 1910
From the U.S. Federal Census of 1910, when Alta was 35 years old, we learn that the "Frank Meskell" she had married was actually Edmond Franklin Meskell. He was 3 years older than her, born in Iowa in 1872 to an Indiana-born father and a mother from New York state (but this information is incorrect). His occupation was "Farmer" and hers was "Teacher." They owned their own home and farm on Fox Hollow Road along Cedar Run creek, in the unincorporated area known as Cedar Run, near the town of Porter, in Clinton, County, Pennsylvania. They were back in her home territory.
With them were their two children, the daughter formerly known as Mary Lola, now listed as Lola S. Meskell (and later to be known Lola S. Nighthart, 1900 - 1993) and a son, Robert Henry Meskell, who was born in 1902 (and lived as a farmer in Cedar Run and died there in 1984).
April, 1920
In the U.S. Federal Census of 1930, the only major change in Alta Meskell's life was that at the age of 45, she was no longer a teacher; in fact, she gave her occupation as "none." Lola was 19 years old and Robert was 17.
Frank, now 47 years old, was still a farmer on their (mortgaged) land in the Cedar Run district outside of Porter. Now we learn that his father was born in Ireland and his mother in Indiana. For some reason this makes more sense to me than the story recorded in the Federal Census of 1910 in which his father was from Indiana and his mother from New York. Meskell is an Irish name, after all.
With the family was Neva K. Vansickle, their 27 year old niece.
April, 1930
In the U.S. Federal Census of 1930, we see the Meskell family at its greatest expanse, still in the Cedar Run district outside of Porter, Pennsylvania. In the household were E. Frank Meskell, 59, the head of the household, a "Farm Operator" running a "General Farm," and his wife, Alta C. Meskell, 55, whose occupation was now "Agent for Medicine," and who was "Working on Own Account" -- that is, self-employed. With them were
Lola Nighthart, 28, Daughter
Harold Nighthart, 4, Grandson
Gladys L. Nighthart, 2, Granddaughter
Paul Lau, 18, Lodger
Ester Hoover, 22, Servant
Mary Hoover, 1, Boarder
This is the first we hear of Alta as an herb doctor and an agent for herbal medicines. Mr. Nighthart, Lola's husband and the father of little Harold and Gladys, was not in the home.
June, 1935
On the 13th of June, 1935, when she was about 60 years old, Mrs. Meskell took out an ad in the Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Morning Press:
ALTA MESKELL, Indian Herbalist.
Mrs. Meskell, who is well and favorably known in this vicinity, will be at the home of J. C. Burrows, Corner Third and Lennard streets, Bloomsburg, FRIDAY JUNE 14, AND EVERY 3 WEEKS THEREAFTER. The herbs which she handles are her own products; raised on her premises.
No herbs are named, nor are their medical qualities listed. You either knew who Mrs. Meskell was and the nature of the Indian herbalism she offered, or you did not.
June, 1936
About a year later, on June 9th, 1936, when she was around 61, she took out another ad in the Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania Morning Press:
Alta MESKELL, INDIAN HERBALIST
will be at the Grauer Tourist Home, 314 West Third St., Nescopeck, on Wednesday June 10 until 4:30 P.M. AND EVERY FOUR WEEKS THEREAFTER. Mrs. Meskell, who is well and favorably known in this vicinity, has had marvelous success in healing; she uses the old Indian methods, which are in accordance with Nature. If sick and discouraged, give her a trial, and be convinced.
August, 1936
Later that same year, on August 1st, Mrs. Meskell took out an ad in the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Record:
Alta C. MESKELL, THE INDIAN HERBALIST
Will be at Luchi's Mt. Scenery Gas Station (2 miles from Hazelton) MONDAY AND TUESDAY and Every Four Weeks Thereafter. These Herb Compounds helped many when all else has failed. Give them a trial and be convinced what they will do for you.
May, 1938
Two years later, on May 26th, 1938, when she was about 63 years old, she advertised in the Berwick, Pennsylvania, Enterprise:
MRS. ALTA MESKELL, INDIAN HERBALIST
Will be at Mrs. Maude Grauer's Tourist Home, 314 W. Third St., Nescopeck, on Friday, May 27th, until 5 P.M. and every three weeks thereafter. If you are sick, try these herbs, Nature's own remedies, and be convinced what they will do for you.
From these ads we can see that Mrs. Meskell sold her goods through the summer, on a regular basis, and was cautious enough to ask merely that the patient "try" them or give them a "trial."
July, 1939
The orderly progression of Mrs. Meskell's life as an herbalist was suddenly shattered in 1939 when, instead of ads for herbs, we learn of the escape of her rare Green Mexican Parrot, Mike! These stories tell the sad tale:
On July 10th, 1939, when Mrs. Meskell was about 64, the Uniontown Pennsylvania Morning Herald ran this brief squib:
Parrot and Others Are Up in Air
Williamsport - July 9.
Mike, a Green Mexican Parrot, perched in a tree top today and scorned the pleadings of his mate, his owner, firemen, and a crowd which has been trying for four days to coax him down.
Biddy, Mike's mate, was placed under the tree in a cage for a while but Mike was more interested in freedom.
Several men climbed the tree Wednesday but Mike stayed beyond their reach.
Mike's owner, Mrs. Alta Meskell, said he had pulled the same stunt two years ago and had finally responded to the coaxing of his mate.
Mike and Biddy's exact species is not given, but my guess is that they were Red-Crowned Green Mexican Parrots (Amazona viridigenalis), a species endemic to Northern Mexico from Northeast Nuevo Leon through Tamaulipas and Northern Veracruz. The fact that she had trained them to talk and kept their wings unclipped wins points with me as a bird-lover, but she had not trained Mike on recall, hence she could not lure him back. He seems to have escaped on the 4th or 5th of July, possibly reacting with fear to celebratory fireworks.
On July 19th, 1939 the Sunbury Pennsylvania Daily Item ran the bold headline, "MIKE" TAKES FRENCH LEAVE. (To "take French leave" means to depart without saying goodbye to your host.) This story actually made the Associated Press wire service.
"MIKE" TAKES FRENCH LEAVE
Williamsport, Pa., July 19. (AP)
— "Mike's" mistress, her friends and the Williamsport Fire Department today lost all trace of the tree-setting fugitive from a bird cage.
"Mike," a valuable Mexican parrot, flew out the window of his owner's home, Monday night.
He made his abode in tree-tops, frequently shifting his home around the town, and spurned all efforts to coax him down -- even disregarding the wiles of "Biddy," his mate, who was taken out in her cage Friday night to the foot of a tree where "Mike" perched.
"Mike" genially screeched, "Hello, lady" and "good morning" to passersby, but paid no attention to "Biddy's" calls of "goody, Mike," and "come on home." Darkness fell and Mrs. Alta C. Meskell, the parrot's owner, took "Biddy" home. Today, "Mike" was gone again.
Fire Chief Michael Clark announced he'd call out his men to get the parrot down if anyone locates him.
August, 1939
Two weeks later, on August 1st, 1939, the AP, and the Sunbury Daily Item, ran an update:
"Mike" the Patrot [sic], Takes To Woods To Escape Heat
— "Mike," the parrot who left his home and mate to become a bird about town, has taken to the woods.
The heat got him.
When "Mike escaped to a tree top weeks ago, he scorned the pleadings of both his mate and his owner, Mrs. Alta Meskell, to come back. Now Mrs. Meskell has almost given up hope.
"Mike" spent the past week on a chicken farm ... heckling the hens.
Alas, Mike never returned.
April, 1940
The next year Alta Meskell was recorded in the 1940 Federal Census:
First Name: Alta
Last Name: Meskell
Age at Time of Census: 65
Gender: Female
Race: White
Ethnicity: American
Marital Status: Married
Est. Birth Year: 1875
Occupation: Physician
Birth Location: Pennsylvania
Enumeration District: 41-72
Residence: 316 Center Street, Ward 5, Williamsport, Williamsport City, Lycoming, PA
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Other People in Household:
William Meskell (Brother in Law, not employed, probably retired), 72 yrs, Male
Mary Williamson (Lodger, not employed, probably retired), 77 yrs, Female
Vincent Vanfleet (Lodger, not employed, probably retired), 83 yrs, Male
Edward Miller (Lodger), 37 yrs, Male
This is where she gave her occupation as "Physician." The census worker did not ask for her credentials.
Interestingly, although she lived with her older brother-in-law and was herself the head of the household, Alta was listed as "married" rather than "widowed." Perhaps her husband had flown the coop, as "Mike" had done.
The fact that she had four lodgers -- her brother-in-law, two elderly single people, and a middle-aged man -- indicates, according to the customs of the time, that she not only rented rooms in her house to them, but she also cooked for them, and may have done their laundry as well.
A contemporary street view of the houses in the area where she lived, around the corner of Center Street and Elmira Street, shows a few remaining two-storey Victorian houses of substance in what was once a prosperous and respectable neighborhood. She was by no means poor, but by taking in lodgers and remaining employed at the age of 65, she signals to us that although she lived in an upper-middle-class house,, she needed to work to maintain the property.
June, 1940
Shortly after the census was taken, Mrs. Meskell took out an ad in the Berwick, Pennsylvania, Enterprise for June 13th, 1940 to announced a new location for her summer herb-doctoring season:
Alta C. Meskell
Herb Specialist, of Williamsport, will be at 421 E. Second St., Berwick, Friday June 14th and every 4 weeks thereafter. Try Herbs for Better Health.
June, 1942
A brief obituary in the Lock Haven Pennsylvania Express for June 6th, 1942 informs us that Alta's husband, E. Frank Meskell, had died on his farm in Cedar Run, Pennsylvania. Alta, their children, and grandchildren were all listed, with Alta and Frank's brother William Meskell, noted as residing in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, as per the 1940 Federal Census. He was buried in nearby Cedar Hill Cemetery, Mill Hall, Pennsylvania.
U. S. v. Alta C. Meskell, 1943
Two years later, in 1943, when the widowed Mrs. Meskell was about 67 years old, all hell broke loose in the form of an attack from the Federal Food and Drug Administration.
This is the heart of the story, the real reason why we have been following the life of Alta Cedalia Earon Meskell, Indian Herbalist
Here is the entire case documentation, with my comments in parentheses.
1354. Misbranding: of herb remedies.
U.S. v. Alta C. Meskell.
Plea of guilty.
Fine, $250. Sentence of 6 months' Imprisonment suspended,
and defendant placed on probation for 5 Years.
F.D.C. No. 11417.
Sample Nos. 17792-F, 17793-F, 33817-F to 33821-F, incl., 34014-F, 34015-F.
On July 24, 1944, the United States attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania filed an information against Alta C. Meskell, Williamsport, Pa., alleging shipment on or about February 2 and April 18, 1943, from the State of Pennsylvania into the State of New York of a quantity of herb remedies referred to as No. 16-1, No. 21-01, Meskell's Special Compound No. 1-2-3, No. 120-00S Compound, No. 990 Laxative, No. 9990-B-T, No. 7., No. 1116, and No. 1321.
HERBS FOR RELIEF FROM RHEUMATISM, MENSTRUAL CRAMPS, AND SCIATICA
Analysis of the No. 16-1 showed that it consisted essentially of plant material including
- Fennel Seed,
- Rosemary Leaves,
- Juniper Berries,
- Althaea Root,
- Sweet Fern Leaves,
- Malva Leaves,
- Black Cohosh Root,
- Podophyllum (May Apples) Root.
The article was alleged to be misbranded in that the statements on its labeling, "We can highly recommend it in case of Rheumatism, Sciatic Lumbago, Cramps. Painful menses. Neuralgia, etc.," were false and misleading since the article would not be efficacious in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of the conditions named, or the other conditions indicated by the abbreviation "etc."
HERBS FOR TREATMENT OF NERVOUS EXHAUSTION AND HEADACHES
Analysis of No. 21-01 showed that it consisted essentially of plant material including
- Ground leaves and stem and rhizome tissues.
(This analysis, unlike the others, consisted only of a visual glance at the material.)
The article was alleged to be misbranded in that the statements in its labeling, "Useful in Nervous Exhaustion and headaches and nervous depression * * * Distinguished for remedial power," were false and misleading since the article would not be efficacious in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of nervous exhaustion, headaches, and nervous depression, and it was not "Distinguished for remedial power," i. e., it was not of outstanding value for its remedial properties.
(This is ridiculous: Without even naming the medically active herbs, the FDA claimed that the compound could not relieve headaches and that merely by being an herbal remedy, "the article would not be efficacious.")
LAXATIVES FOR BOWEL, LIVER, STOMACH, AND GASTRIC DISTRESS
The Meskell's Special Compound No. 1-2-3 consisted of
- A powder in a white box, "No. 1,"
- A liquid, "No. 2," and
- A powder in a pink box, "No. 3."
Analysis showed that
- The No. 1 powder consisted of Epsom Salt;
- The No. 2 liquid consisted of Cottonseed Oil;
- The No. 3 powder consisted of Rochelle Salt.
The article was alleged to be misbranded because of false and misleading statements on its label and in an accompanying circular entitled "Herbs are Healthful," and an accompanying leaflet entitled "Questionnaire Blank," which represented and suggested that the powders and liquid, when used singly or in combination with each other, would be efficacious in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disorders of the liver, gallstones, pain below the ribs, at the stomach, and under the shoulder blades, nausea, belching of gas, spitting up of sour food, sallow complexion, distension of the stomach after eating, irregular bowels, ulceration of the stomach, dyspepsia, dizziness, colitis and enteritis, yellow complexion, sallow eyes, and coated tongue.
(Just a little note from the future: Mrs. Meskell's Compound No. 2 was correct. In 2019 a PubMed article was released with the title: "Cottonseed Oil Protects Against Intestinal Inflammation in Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Inflammatory Bowel Disease" and it went on to state that "Cottonseed oil protects against intestinal inflammation and the development of intestinal fibrosis by reducing inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress.")
(Also, for those unfamiliar with the Rochelle Salt in Compound No. 3, it is Potassium Sodium Tartrate Tetrahydrate, and was first prepared circa 1675 by an apothecary named Pierre Seignette, who lived in La Rochelle, France. Like the Epsom Salts in Compound No. 1, it was at one time a common medicinal laxative.)
HERBS FOR PAIN RELIEF AND REDUCING INFLAMMATION
Analysis of the No. 120-00S Compound showed that it consisted of plant material including
- Fennel Seed,
- Juniper Berries,
- Serpentaria (Aristolochia; Virginia Snakeroot) Root,
- Wahoo Bark,
- Wintergreen Leaves.
The article was alleged to be misbranded because of false and misleading statements in the aforesaid accompanying circular, and leaflet regarding its efficacy in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of rheumatism, neuralgia, arthritis, and neuritis, and as an effective blood remedy.
HERBAL LAXATIVE
Analysis of the No. 990 Laxative showed that it consisted of plant material including
- Senna Leaves,
- Buckthorn Bark,
- Fennel Seed,
- Licorice Root,
- Cascara Sagrada Bark,
- Calamus Root,
- Ginger Root.
The article was alleged to be misbranded
(1) because of false and misleading statements in the afore-mentioned circular and leaflet, which accompanied the article, regarding its efficacy in regulating the bowels, removing all superfluous bile from the liver, and strengthening the kidneys;
(2) in that the labeling statements, "A combination of Native Pure Roots, Herbs, Barks and Flowers," were false and misleading since the article was not composed solely of native roots, herbs, barks, and flowers, but contained senna, a substance that is not native to the Western Hemisphere; and
(3) in that its label failed to warn that the article should not be taken when abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or other symptoms of appendicitis were present, and that frequent or continued use of the article might result in dependence on laxatives to move the bowels.
(The FDA's point number (2) above -- that "Senna [is] a substance that is not native to the Western Hemisphere" -- is a flat-out LIE! Native Senna was a go-to laxative used by Native American medicine doctors all over the continent, long before colonization. It is a member of the Pea family. The pods make the strongest laxative and the leaves make the mildest. Only the leaves are used when the patient is a child, a pregnant woman, or an elderly person. Literally every herbologist in America knows this!)
(Senna hebecarpa, also known as Northern Wild Senna or American Senna, is native from Ontario, Canada, and Maine in the North on down to Georgia in the South, and from the Atlantic Ocean in the East on over to a line drawn from Wisconsin through Tennessee in the West. Obviously Pennsylvania falls well within these bounds.)
(In the South we have Senna marilandica or Maryland Senna, which can be found as far north as the Great Lakes.)
(And as if that were not enough, on the Western side of the Continental Divide, we have Senna wislizeni, commonly called Shrubby Senna, which ranges from Arizona on down into Hidalgo, Mexico.)
(The laxative property of these Senna plants was well known to Native physicians and European immigrant physicians as well, both then and now. The FDA's experts were not idiots. They were lying, bull-shitting idiots.)
DIGESTIVE TONIC FOR RELIEF OF GASTRITIS, BLOATING, AND HEARTBURN
Analysis of the No. 9990-B-T showed that it consisted essentially of plant material including
- Thyme Leaves,
- Fennel Seed,
- Corn Silk,
- Uva Ursi (Bearberry, Kinnikinnick) Leaves,
- Althaea Root,
- Cascara Sagrada Bark,
- Ginger Root,
- Anise Seed,
- Berberis (Barberry) Root.
The article was alleged to be misbranded because of false and misleading statements on its label regarding its efficacy as a tonic and in the toning of the digestive organism, and in the treatment of gastritis, bloating, and heartburn.
HERBS FOR MITIGATION OR PREVENTION OF COLDS
Analysis of the No. 7 showed that it consisted essentially* of plant material including
- Ginger Root,
- Sassafras Bark,
- Peppermint Leaves,
- Clove Buds,
- Sabal (Saw Palmetto) Berries,
- Juniper Berries,
- Cubeb Berries,
- Cascara (Sagrada) Bark.
The article was alleged to be misbranded
(1) in that the statements, "No. 7 This will break a cold, la grippe or aching bones, neuralgia and nervousness. The herbs promptly destroys the cause of all these complaints," appearing in the afore-mentioned circular, which accompanied the article, were false and misleading since the article would not be efficacious in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of colds, grippe, aching bones, neuralgia, or nervousness, and the article would not destroy the causes of those conditions promptly, or at all; and '
(2) in that the article was a laxative and its labeling failed to warn that the article should not be taken when abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or other symptoms of appendicitis were present, or that frequent or continued use of the article might result in dependence on laxatives to move the bowels.
HERBS FOR THE MITIGATION OF KIDNEY AND BLADDER IRRITATION
Analysis of No. 1116 showed that it consisted essentially of plant material including
- Althaea Root,
- Mint Leaves,
- Sweet Fern Leaves,
- Black Cohosh Root,
- Dog Grass (Cynodon; Couch Grass) Rhizomes.
The article was alleged to be misbranded because of false and misleading statements on its label and in the afore-mentioned circular, which accompanied the article, regarding its efficacy in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of, kidney and bladder irritation, diabetes, and Bright's disease, and as a remedy for either diabetes or Bright's disease.
(Actually, to state but one counter-example to the FDA's nonsense, Dog Grass or Cynodon dactylon, also called Couch Grass, Crab Grass, or Bermuda Grass, is a well-known diuretic, still in use to this day, and would indeed have "efficacy" in the treatment of bladder irritation by promoting the free flow of urine.)
HERBS FOR KIDNEY STONES (GRAVEL) AND BLADDER IRRITATION
Analysis of No. 1321 showed that it consisted essentially of plant material including
- Buchu Leaves,
- Uva Ursi (Bearberry, Kinnikinnick) Leaves,
- Equisetum (Horsetails; Snake Grass),
- Althaea Root,
- Sassafras Bark.
The article was alleged to be misbranded because of false and misleading statements on the label and in the afore-mentioned circular, which accompanied the article, regarding its efficacy in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of kidney and bladder irritation, gravel, and backache, and in soothing inflammation and irritation of the kidneys or bladder.
(I was bit surprised to see that the FDA did not find Gravel Root among Mrs. Mekell's kidney stone herbs. Its very name indicates that it is a specific for the condition. However, Mrs. Meskell did carry it and named in her complete list of available herbs for various conditions, below.)
QUANTITIES NOT LISTED
The articles, with the exception of the Meskell's Special Compound No. 1-2-3, were alleged to be misbranded further in that their labels failed to bear any statements of the quantity of the contents.
HERBAL TREATMENTS FOR VARIOUS DISEASES MENTIONED IN CIRCULAR
The articles Compound No. 1-2-3, No. 120-00S, No. 990 Laxative, No. 9990-B-T, No. 7, No. 1116, and No. 1321 were alleged to be misbranded further because of false and misleading statements in the afore-mentioned circular accompanying them which represented and suggested that herbs were first in therapeutic importance with respect to harmlessness and effectiveness in combating all diseases; that all herbs were nonpoisonous; that the herb formulas for the articles were secret formulas and would be efficacious to heal most all diseases and to treat diseases considered to be hopeless cases; and that the herbs
- Asparagus,
- Basil,
- Borage,
- Balmony,
- Bittersweet,
- Black Cohosh,
- Bloodroot,
- Blue Flag,
- Blue Mallow,
- Boneset,
- Burdock,
- Calamus,
- Gravel Root,
- Goldenseal,
- Ground Ivy,
- Wild Thyme,
- Tolu Balsam.
either used alone or in combination, would purify the blood and would be efficacious in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of heart conditions, dropsy, diarrhea, affections of the chest, constipation, jaundice, kidney ailments, rheumatism, polypus, chest and lung conditions, bronchitis, blood and urine diorders, coughs, all fevers, liver disorders, dyspepsia, whooping cough, chronic catarrh, catarrh of the bronchial tubes, catarrh of the stomach, nervousness, neuritis, eczema, general debility, hardening of the arteries, goiter, and ulcers of the stomach.
(Here the F.D.A. was overreaching. The circular did not claim that every herb treated every condition, merely that the herbs within the herb list were used to treat symptoms within the symptom list. For instance, Gravel Root is still a popular medicine for the kidneys and Tolu Balsam is still a popular remedy for coughs and catarrh.)
HERBS WERE NOT SPECIFICALLY NAMED
The articles No. 16-1, No. 21-01, No. 990 Laxative, No. 1116, and No. 1321 were alleged to be further misbranded in that their labels failed to bear a statement of the common or usual name of each active ingredient since the statements "barks, herbs, roots and flowers" on the label of the No. 16-1, "roots, herbs, barks and flowers" on the labels of the No. 21-01 and the 990 Laxative, and "Herbs, Leaves, Barks, Roots, Flowers" on the label of the No. 1116, and "herbs, leaves, roots, barks and berries" on the label of the No. 1321, did not constitute statements of the active ingredients of the articles.
(Well, thanks to the diligence of the FDA's analysts, we now have some pretty accurate common-name formulas for Mrs. Meskell's herbal compounds. They follow along with previously recorded historical and contemporary uses for such herbs, roots, and berries in the treatment of the symptoms noted. The fact that the FDA did all of this work for us -- preserving Alta Meskell's recipes forever -- is a wonderful side-effect of their bureaucratic meddling in her life.)
A PLEA OF GUILTY, A FINE, A SUSPENDED JAIL SENTENCE, AND PROBATION
On October 18, 1944, a plea of guilty having been entered, the defendant was fined $250 on count 1, and a sentence of 6 months in jail on the remaining 8 counts, to be served concurrently, was imposed. The jail sentence was suspended and the defendant was placed on probation for 5 years, with the understanding that she should discontinue selling misbranded drugs.
October, 1944
Once Mrs. Meskell pled guilty to shipping herbal medicines across state lines, she couldn't catch a break. On October 19th, 1944, her own home-town newspaper, the Williamsport Gazette, ran an article about her conviction:
Federal Court Puts $250 Fine On Local Woman
Mrs. Alta C. Meskell of 316 Center Street, pleaded guilty to nine counts of an indictment charging her with violations of the Food and Drugs Act in the manufacture of herb medicine before Judge William F. Smith of Newark, N.J., specially presiding in federal court at Scranton Wednesday. She was fined $250 on the first count, given a suspended sentence of six months on the remaining counts, and placed under probation for five years.
October, 1948
In 1948 Mrs. Meskell, about 73 years old, had not yet gotten through the 5 years of probation that resulted from her guilty plea in 1944, when she was indicted once again for making and selling herbal medicines. This time a Pennsylvania grand jury brought an indictment against her for transportation of herbs across state lines.
The Harrisburg Pennsylvania Evening News carried the information on October 6th:
Local Resident Indicted by Jury
SCRANTON -- (AP) -- Six Indictments were handed down by the October grand jury of the United States Middle District of Pennsylvania court in a partial report to Judge Albert L. Watson. Cited in the bills yesterday were: Mrs. Alta C. Meskell, Williamsport, violation of food and drug laws in introducing a herb product into Interstate Commerce.
The Scranton Pennsylvania Tribune ran essentially the same text, with a different headline, also on October 6th:
U.S. Grand Jurors List Six True Bills
Six indictments were returned yesterday in a first, partial report of the Grand Jury for the October Term of Federal Court. The jurors, reporting to Federal Judge Albert I. Watson, brought in true bills against: Mrs. Alta C. Meskell, Williamsport, charged with violation of Federal Food and Drug Laws in introducing herb products into Interstate Commerce.
January, 1949
On January 18th, 1949, the WIlliamsport Sun-Gazette noted that Mrs Meskell, then abut 74 years old, had been admitted to the Rothfuss Clinic. This private local hospital had been founded in 1928 and was still in existence as late as 1950. The two chief doctors were both named Rothfuss. Because it was a general hospital that took in cases ranging from surgery to childbirth, no guess as to the nature of Mrs. Meskell's illness can be made, nor have i been able to determine if she was discharged after treatment or died while there.
Rothfuss Clinic
PATIENTSTwo persons were admitted and three discharged Monday at the Rothfuss Clinic. Admitted -- Mrs. Alta C. Meskell, 316 Center Street, and Mrs. Dorothy Hamft, 626 Market Street, South Williamsport. Discharged -- Mrs. Mary E. LeVan, 1304 Rural Avenue; Mrs. Olive Fryberger, Allenwood, and Paul Goblick, Montoursville.
I wonder if, with another Federal herb-medicine-trafficking charge and the violation of her earlier probation hanging over her head, Alta C. Meskell decided to seek refuge in the hospital on the grounds that if she claimed to be ill, she would be found unfit to stand trial.
In any case, i can find no record of a second trial. I had hoped that she took French leave and lived her remaining years in freedom, but in actuality she died about six months later, on January 6th, 1949 as the result of "cerebral apoplexy" (a stroke) due to arteriosclerosis. She was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Mill Hall, Clinton County, Pennsylvania.
catherine yronwode
SouthernSpirits.org
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to nagasiva yronwode for help with cleanups and transcriptions, and for making this week's placard.