16856. Misbranding of  compound  Tvhite pine  cough  syrup  with  tar,  and
aspirin tablets. U. S. v. 18 Dozen Bottles, et al., of Oompouud 
"White Fine Cough Syrup with Tax-, and 130 Dozen Tins, et al., 
of Aspirin Tablets. Consent decrees of condemnation and fox-* 
feiture. Products released under bond. (E\ & D. Nos. 24126. 24163, 
24164.    I. S. Nos. 06397, 06400, 018778.     S. Nos. 2368, 2386, 2387.)
On October 7 and October 14, 1929, respectively, the United States attorney 
for the Northern District of California, acting upon reports by the Secretary of 
Agriculture, filed in the District Court of the United States for said disLrict 
libels praying seizure and condemnation of 18 dozen 8-ounce size and 120 dozen 
8-ounce size of compound white pine cough syrup with tar, and 850 dozen tins 
of aspirin tablets, remaining in the original unbroken packages at San Fran- 
cisco, Calif., consigned by McKesson & Bobbins (Inc.), Bridgeport, Conn., 
alleging that the articles had been shipped from Bridgeport, Conn., in various 
consignments, between the approximate dates of May 17, 1929, and August 
31, 1929, and transported from the State of Connecticut into the State of 
California, and charging misbranding in violation of the food and drugs act 
as amended.
Analysis of a sample of the article by this department showed that the aspirin 
tablets contained approximately 5 grains of acetylsalicylic acid per tablet, and 
the compound white pine cough syrup with tar consisted essentially of extracts 
of plant drugs, sugar, small amounts of tar, chloroform, and volatile oils, 
alcohol, and water.
It was alleged in the libels that the articles were misbranded in that the fol- 
lowing statements regarding the curative or therapeutic effects of the said 
articles, borne on the respective labels, (cough syrup, bottle label) "A valuable 
preparation for the relief of Coughs * * * Hoarseness, etc.," (cough syrup, 
carton label) "A valuable remedy for Acute and Chronic Affections of the 
Throat and Lungs, Coughs * * * Hoarseness and Whooping Cough," 
(aspirin tablets, label on tin) "For Rheumatism * * * Oout, Influenza, 
Grippe," (aspirin tablets, circular) " Rheumatism, Lumbago, Sore Joints, * * * 
Pain from Sciatica," were false and fraudulent, since the articles contained no 
ingredients or combinations of ingredients capable of producing the effects 
claimed.
On November 13, 1929, the McKesson-Langley-Michaels Co., San Francisco, 
Calif., having appeared as claimant for the property and having consented to 
the entry of decrees, judgments of condemnation and forfeiture were entered, 
and it was ordered by the court that the products be released to the said claim- 
ant upon payment of costs and the execution of bonds totaling $800, conditioned 
in part that they be made to conform with the Federal food and drugs act under 
the direction of this department. 
,
AKTHTTR M. HTDE, Becretary of Agriculture.