22185. Misbranding of Ma Barns' External Liniment.    U.  S. v. "William B. 
Stellar   (Ma  Burns'   Liniment   Co.).    Plea  of  guilty.     Fine,  84.
(F. & D. no. 30214.    Sample no. 8298-A.)
Examination of a sample of Ma Burns' External Liniment showed that it 
contained no ingredient or combination of ingredients capable of producing 
certain curative and therapeutic effects claimed in the labeling. The article 
was labeled as being pharmaceutically nonpoisonous, whereas it was phar- 
maceutically poisonous, since it contained ammonia.
On January 20, 1934, the United States attorney for the District of Massa- 
chusetts, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
district court an information against William B. Molecular, trading as Ma 
Burns' Liniment Co., Everett, Mass., alleging shipment by said defendant in 
violation of the Food and Drugs Act as amended, on or about February 5 and 
March 4, 1932, from the State of Massachusetts into the State of New Jersey, 
of a quantity of liniment which was misbranded. The article was labeled in 
part: (Carton) "Ma Burns' External Liniment * * * A Powerful Anti- 
septic Pharmaceutically Non-poisonous. * * * Ma Burns' Liniment Co. 
Everett, Mass."
Analysis of a sample of the article by this Department showed that it 
consisted of an emulsion containing uncombined ammonia (8.8 percent), tur- 
pentine oil, and water.
It was alleged in the information that the article was misbranded in that 
certain statements, designs, and devices regarding the curative and therapeutic
effects of the article, appearing on the bottle and carton labels and in an 
accompanying circular, falsely and fraudulently represented that it was effec- 
tive as a relief, treatment, remedy, and cure for tuberculosis, pneumonia, laryn- 
gitis, bronchitis, pleurisy, influenza, asthma, coughs, rheumatism, lumbago, 
neuritis, and blood poisoning; effective to sweep out the aching root pain 
and to kill rheumatic aches; effective to start normal circulation coursing 
down to the painful area; effective as a sovereign liniment for coughs, 
influenza and pneumonia; effective as a great relief for tubercle lungs; 
glands and joints, to arrest the work of pneumonia and influenza in a few hours 
and to give immediate relief in rheumatic fever and to put the patient on his 
feet within a short time; effective to banish pain; effective as a treat- 
ment, remedy, and cure for chronic rheumatism, peritonitis, catarrh, stiff joints, 
throat and lung troubles, and any affliction which has become deep seated and 
of long standing; and effective to prolong life. Misbranding was alleged for 
the further reason that the statement on the carton, " Pharmaceutically Non- 
poisonous ", was false and misleading, since the article was pharmaceutically 
poisonous, in that it contained ammonia.
On February 12, 1934, the defendant entered a plea of guilty to the infor- 
mation, and the court imposed a flue of $4.
M. L. WILSON, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.