SO 17. Misbranding: of Robert J. Pierce's Pennyroyal Tablets. V. S. * * *?
v. i 3." Boxes of Robert J. Pierce's Pennyroyal Tablets. Default?
decree of condemnation, forfeiture, and destruction. (F. & D. Nos.?
13602, 13003, 13604, 13605 I S Nos. 5342-4, 5340-t, 5141-t, 5354-t. S. No*.?
E-2690, E-2691, E-2092, E-2693.)
On September 2, 1920, the United States attorney for the District of Massa??
chusetts, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the?
District Court of the United States for said district a libel of information?
praying the seizure and condemnation of 133 boxes of Robert J. Pierce's Penny??
royal Tablets, consigned by Robert J. Pierce, Inc., New York, N. Y., between?
September 10, 1919, and June 10, 1920,
" remaining unsold in the original unbroken?
packages at Boston and Worcester, Mass., alleging that the article had been?
shipped and transported from the State of New York into the Commonwealth?
of Massachusetts, and charging misbranding in violation of the Food and?
Drugs Act, as amended. The article was labeled in part, " Robert J. Pierce's?
Pennyroyal Tablets."
Analysis of a sample of the article by the Bureau of Chemistry of this de??
partment showed that the pills consisted essentially of plant extractives?
including tansy, ferrous sulphate, and aloes.
It was alleged in substance in the libel of information that the article was?
misbranded for the reason that the following statements, regarding the curative?
and therapeutic effect thereof, (box) "The most powerful and reliable?
emmenagogue known. The only safe, sure and always effectual remedy in sup??
pression (stoppage) of the menstrual function." (circular) "The Celebrated?
Female Regulator * * * active treatment should begin four or five clays?
before the expected reappearance of the menstrual flow. Take one three times?
daily * v :' follow instructions until the desired result is obtained * * *?
Emmenagogue medicine They have invariably proved successful as a preventive?
of irregularities. Take one three times daily. They can always be depended?
upon as a monthly regulator," were false and fraudulent in that said article?
contained no ingredient or combination of ingredients capable of producing?
the effects claimed.
On November 12, 1920, no claimant having appeared for the property, judg??
ment of condemnation and forfeiture was entered, and it was ordered by the?
court that the product be destroyed by the United States marshal.
E. D, BALL, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.