18388. Misbranding of Dr. G. B. "Williams' liver and kidney pills. U. S. v. 
26 Dozen Boxes, et aU, of Dr. G. B. Williams' Liver and Kidney 
Pills. Default decrees of condemnation, forfeiture, and destruc- 
tion. (F. & D. Nos. 26226, 26227. I. S. Nos. 27550, 27551. S. Nos. 4436, 
4471.)
Examination of the drug product herein described having shown that the 
labeling bore statements representing that the article possessed curative and 
therapeutic properties which it did not possess, the Secretary of Agriculture 
reported the matter to the United States attorney for the Southern District 
of Florida.
On April 21, 1931, the United States attorney filed in the District Court 
of the United States for the district aforesaid libels praying seizure and 
condemnation of 48 dozen boxes of Dr. G. B. Williams'Tiver and kidney pills, 
remaining in the original unbroken packages at Tampa, Fla., alleging that 
the article had been shipped by the Interstate Drug Co., from Quitman, Ga., 
in part on or about April 9, 1931, and in part on or about April 16, 1931, and 
had been transported from the State of Georgia into the State of Florida, 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 it con- 
sisted essentially of a compound of mercury such as calomel, aloe, a resin 
such as podophyllum resin, and a trace of an alkaloid.
It was alleged in the libels that the article was misbranded in that the fol- 
lowing statements appearing in the labeling, regarding the curative and thera- 
peutic effects of the said article, were false and fraudulent, since it contained 
no ingredient or combination of ingredients capable of producing the effects 
claimed: (Bottle, both lots) "For * * * Biliousness, headache, backache, 
and all troubles arising from inactive liver and kidneys;" (carton, first lot) 
"There is nothing better for Biliousness * * * Headache, Backache, or 
any Liver and Kidney Trouble * * * They are a system cleanser and 
relieve by removing the cause. * * * For the Liver and Kidneys * * * 
Liver- and Kidney Pills regularly in malaria sections of the country, they ward 
off Chills and Fever and other troubles brought on from malaria. * * * 
Liver and Kidney Pills act promptly and pleasantly without any debilitating 
effect upon the system, and may be taken with perfect safety by young or 
old;" (carton, second.lot) "Liver and Kidney Pills act promptly and pleas- 
antly without any debilitating effect upon the system, and may be taken with 
perfect safety by young or old * * * For the Liver and Kidneys * * * 
Liver and Kidney Pills regularly in malaria sections of the country, they 
ward  off  Chills  and  Fever  and  other  troubles brought  on from  malaria.
* * * There is nothing better for Biliousness * * * Headache, Back- 
ache, or any Liver and Kidney Trouble * * * They are a system cleanser 
and relieve by removing the cause;"   (shipping carton)   "Liver and Kidney
* * * For Biliousness * * * Headache, Backache, and all troubles aris- 
ing from inactive liver or kidneys; " (circular, second lot) "Liver and Kidney 
Pills."
On May 27, 1931, 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.
ARTHUR M. HYDE, Secretary of Agriculture.