17153. Misbranding of aspirin tablets.    U. S. v. 125 Dozen Bottles, et al., of
Aspirin Tablets. Consent decree of condemnation and forfeiture. 
Product released under bond. (F. & D. No. 24530. I. S. Nos. 010761, 
010762.    S. No. 2819.)
On February 17, 1930, the United States attorney for the Northern District 
cf California, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
District Court of the United States for said district a libel praying seizure and 
condemnation of 125 dozen bottles and 155 dozen boxes of aspirin tablets, re- 
maining in the original unbroken packages at Oakland, Calif., alleging that the 
article had been shipped by the J. R. Watkins Co., from Newark, N. J., in various 
lots, on or about September 17, October 20, November 26, and December 24, 
1929, respectively, and transported from the State of New Jersey 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 
tablets contained approximately 5 grains of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) each.
It was alleged in the libel that the article was misbranded in that the fol- 
lowing statements regarding its curative and therapeutic effects, borne on the 
labels, were false and fraudulent, since the said article contained no ingre- 
dient or combination of ingredients capable of producing the effects claimed: 
(Bottle) " Neuralgia * * * Rheumatism, Sciatica, Earache * * * 
Lumbago, Grippe, Periodic Pains, Sore Throat;" (circular accompanying bot- 
tle) "Neuralgia, Rheumatism, Sciatica, Lumbago, Grippe * * * Earache, 
Periodic Pains, Sore Throat * * * Grippe * * * Rheumatism, Lum- 
bago * * * Neuralgia, Sciatica * * * Earache * * * Periodic 
Pains * * * Sore Throat;" (tin box) "Grippe * * * Neuralgia, Rheu- 
matism, Sciatica, Lumbago, Earache * * * Periodic Pains, Sore Throat; " 
(circular accompanying tin box) "Grippe * * * Rheumatism, Lum- 
bago * * * Sore Throat * * * Neuralgia, Sciatica * * * Ear- 
ache   *   *   *   Periodic Pains."
On May 17, 1930, the J. R. Watkins Co., Winona, Minn., claimant, having 
admitted the allegations of the libel and having consented to the entry of a 
decree, judgment of condemnation and forfeiture was entered, and it was 
ordered by the court that the product be releasea to the said claimant upon 
payment of costs and the execution of a bond in the sum of $600, conditioned 
in part that it be relabeled to conform with the Federal food and drugs act.
-AETHUB M. HYDE, Secretary of Agriculture.