9987. Misbranding of Allan's Star Brand pills. U. S. * * * v. Allan's 
Star Brand Pills. Default decree ordering the destruction of the 
product.    (F. & D. No. 13877.    Inv. No. 24118.    S. No. C-2580.)
On or about December 4, 1920, the United States attorney for the Northern 
District of Mississippi, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, 
filed in the District Court of the United States for said district a libel for the 
seizure and condemnation of 4 packages of Allan's Star Brand pills, at Winona, 
Miss., alleging that the article had been shipped by the Allan-Pfeiffer Chemical 
Co., St. Louis, Mo., on or about February 15, 1918, and transported from the 
State of Missouri into the State of Mississippi, and charging misbranding in 
violation of the Food and Drugs Act, as amended. The article was labeled in 
part: (Circular) " * * * A Good Remedy In Suppressed Or Painful Menstru- 
ation. * * * to bring on the menses * * * immediately preceding the 
expected appearance of the menstrual flow * * * treatment should begin 
* * * Take one Pill * * * Continue this treatment * * * until a 
satisfactory result is secured. To Prevent Irregularities—Take one Pill * * * 
four or five days preceding the expected appearance of the menstrual period. 
For Painful Menstruation—The same treatment prescribed for suppression."
Analysis of a sample of the article by the Bureau of Chemistry of this depart- 
ment showed that the pills consisted essentially of iron sulphate, aloes, and 
starch, coated with sugar and calcium carbonate.
It was alleged in substance in the libel that the article was misbranded in 
that the above-quoted statements appearing in the said circular, regarding the 
curative and therapeutic effects thereof, were false and fraudulent for the 
reason that the said article contained no ingredient or combination of ingredi- 
ents capable of producing the effects claimed.
On June 6, 1921, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgment of 
the court was entered ordering the destruction of the product by the United 
States marshal.
C. W. PUGSLEY, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.