12651.  Misbranding-   of   Plougrn's   Prescription   C-2223.     U.   S.   v.   3   Dozen
Bottles   et  al.   of  Plough's  Prescription   C-2223.     Default  decrees
of condemnation, forfeiture, and destruction.     (F. & D. Nos. 17325,
17340,  17341.    I.  S. Nos. 4876-v, 4877-v, 4879-v.    S. Nos.  C-3918,  C-3919,
.     C-3920.)
On March 6 and 9, 1923, respectively, the United States attorney for the 
Southern District of Ohio, acting upon reports by the Secretary of Agriculture, 
liled in the District Court of the United States for said district libels praying 
the seizure and condemnation of 11 dozen bottles of Plough's Prescription 
C-2223, at Cincinnati, Ohio, consigned by the Plough Chemical Co., from 
Memphis, Tenn., in various consignments, namely, on or about August 12 and 
"November 20, 1922, and January 39, 1923, respectively, alleging that the article 
had been shipped from Memphis, Tenn., and transported from the State of 
Tennessee into the State of Ohio, and charging misbranding in violation of the 
food and drug acts as amended. The article was labeled in part: (Bottle) "A 
Blood Purifier Recommended For Treatment Of Rheumatism * * * In Se- 
vere Cases, take * * * until relieved; " (circular) "A Reliable Blood Puri- 
fier 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. Help- 
less, 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 fester- 
ing 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. * * * ' In * * * conditions due to tainted blood, it acts as a 
specific' * * * the most valuable remedy known in the treatment of rheu- 
matism ; it eases the pain, diminishes the fever-results are almost certain in 
acute * * * cases. * * * Prescription C-2223 has relieved * * * 
many thousands, suffering from Rheumatism * * * Lumbago, Sciatica, dis- 
eases due to tainted or impure blood, evidenced by chronic Sores, Scrofula, 
Eczema and other similar conditions of the skin." A portion of the bottles 
were contained in cartons labeled in part: " Blood Purifier Recommended for 
disorders caused by impure blood as Eczema, Chronic Sores and constitutional 
blood diseases. Rheumatism * * * Sciatica, Lumbago, Lame Back, Uric 
find Lactic Acid Conditions."   The remainder of the said bottles were contained
in cartons labeled in part: " Rheumatism * * * Sciatica, Lumbago, Lame 
Back, Uric and Lactic Acid Conditions, Blood Disorders, Eczema, Chronic Sores 
and similar affections arising from bad blood."
Analysis of a sample of the article by the Bureau of Chemistry of this- 
department showed that the product consisted essentially of potassium iodide, 
extracts of plant drugs including colchicum, a trace of salicylic acid, anise 
flavor, glycerin, alcohol, and water.
Misbranding of the article was alleged in the libels for the reason that the 
bottle labels and accompanying cartons and circulars bore statements regarding 
the curative and therapeutic effects of the said article, which were false and 
fraudulent in that the article contained no ingredients or combination of 
ingredients capable of producing the effects claimed, and the article was 
insufficient of itself for the successful treatment and cuz*e of the ailments and 
diseases for which it was prescribed and recommended in the said statements.
On July 18, 1923, 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. GOBE, Secretary of Agriculture.