12473. Misbranding of Ploug-Ji's  Prescription  C-2223.    V.  S.  v.  52 Bottles,
et  al., of Plough's  Prescription  C—2223.    Default  decrees  of  con- 
demnation, forfeiture, and destruction.     (F. & D. Nos. 17342, 17343,
17344.    I. S. Nos. 4492-v, 4493-v, 4494-v, 4495-v, 4496-v.    S. Nos. C-3921, 
C-3922, C-3923.)
On March 21, 1923, the United States attorney for the Western District of 
Kentucky, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
District Court of the United States for said district libels praying the seizure 
and condemnation of 125 small bottles and 96 large bottles of Plough's Pre- 
scription remaining in the original unbroken packages at Louisville, Ky., con- 
signed by the Plough Chemical Co., Memphis, Tenn., in various shipments, 
between the dates of September 11 and December 16, 1922, alleging that the 
article had been shipped from Memphis, Tenn., and transported from the State 
of Tennessee into the State of Kentucky, and charging misbranding in viola- 
tion of the food and drugs act as amended.
Analysis of a sample of the article by the Bureau of Chemistry of this depart- 
ment showed that it consisted essentially of potassium iodide, colchicum ex- 
tract, a trace of salicylic acid, alcohol, and water, flavored with anise.
Misbranding of the article was alleged in substance in the libels for the 
reason that the following statements regarding the curative and therapeutic 
effects of the said article, (bottles, both sizes) "A Blood Purifier Recommended 
For Treatment Of Rheumatism    *    *    *    In severe cases, take    *    *    *    until
relieved," (carton, large size) "Rheumatism * * * Sciatica, Lumbago, 
Lame Back, Uric and Lactic Acid Conditions Blood Disorders Eczema, 
Chronic Sores and similar affections arising from bad blood," (carton, small 
size) " Blood Purifier Recommended for disorders caused by impure blood, as 
Eczema, Chronic Sores and constitutional blood diseases. Rheumatism * * * 
Sciatica, Lumbago, Lame Back, Uric and Lactic Acid Conditions," (circular, 
both sizes) "A Reliable Blood Purifier A Treatment for Rheumatism * * * 
Sciatica, Lumbago, Lame Back, Blood Disorders, Eczema, Chronic Sores and 
Similar Diseases Caused by Bad Blood * * * In the treatment of Scrofula, 
Rheumatism, certain Catarrhal Conditions, Hereditary Blood Taints, Diseases 
of the Bones, Ulcerous Sores, Prescription C-2223 has been recommended and 
used for many years. Helpless, unhappy persons who had given up all hope 
of relief, have found in this Blood Purifier a means of relief. Men, women and 
even children, whose energy has been sapped and their life almost wrecked, 
who were troubled with festering sores or tortured with rheumatic- pains, 
have been relieved from the grip of these diseases after the continued use of 
or treatment with Prescription C-2223 * * * for any trouble due to poi- 
soned or tainted blood, get you a bottle of Prescription C-2223   *    *    *   ' In
* * * conditions due to tainted blood, it acts as a specific' * * * the 
most valuable remedy known in the treatment of rheumatism; it eases the 
pain, diminishes the fever—results are almost certain in acute   *    *    *   cases
* * * Prescription C-2223 has relieved * * * many thousands, suffer- 
ing from Rheumatism * * * Lumbago, Sciatica, diseases due to tainted 
or impure blood, evidenced by chronic Sores, Scrofula, Eczema and other sim- 
ilar conditions of the skin," were false and fraudulent, since the said article 
contained no ingredient or combination of ingredients capable of producing 
the effects claimed.
On April 15, 1924, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgments 
of condemnation and forfeiture were entered, and it was ordered by the court 
that the product be destroyed by the United States marshal.
HOWARD M. GORE, Secretary of Agriculture.