23232. Adulteration and misbranding of colchicum corm and tincture 
belladonna. I). S. v. The Upjohn Co. Plea of nolo contendere. 
Fine, $200.     (F. & D. no. 31319.    Sample nos. 3747-A, 4017-A.)
This case was based on an interstate shipment of fluidextract of colchicum 
corm which differed from the standard provided by the National Formulary, 
since it yielded less colchicine than provided in the formulary, and of a ship- 
ment of tincture of belladonna that differed from the standard provided by the 
United States Pharmacopoeia, since it yielded alkaloids of belladonna leaves in 
excess of the amount provided in the pharmacopoeia.
On February 24,1934, the United States attorney for the Western District of 
Michigan, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
district court an information against the Upjohn Co., a corporation, Kalamazoo, 
Mich., alleging shipment by said company, in violation of the Food and Drugs 
Act, on or about June 22, 1932, and July 2, 1932, from the State of Michigan 
into the State of Illinois, of quantities of fluidextract of colchicum corm and 
tincture of belladonna, respectively, which were adulterated and misbranded. 
The articles were labeled in part: "Fluid Extract Colchicum Corm, N. F. V.
* * * Standard—0.31 to 0.39 Gm. Colchicine per 100 cc. * * * The 
Upjohn Company. * * * Kalamazoo, Mich."; and " Tincture Belladonna, 
U.  S.  P.  X.    *    *    *    Standard—0.027 to  0.033  Gm. Alkaloids per  100 cc.
* *    *   The Upjohn Company   *   *    *    Kalamazoo, Mich."
The information charged Adulteration of the colchicum corm in that it was 
sold under a name recognized in the National Formulary, fifth revision, and 
differed from the standard of strength, quality, and purity as determined by 
the test laid down in the said formulary, in that it yielded less than 0.31 gram 
of colchicine per 100 cubic centimeters, namely, not more than 0.266 gram of 
colchicine per 100 cubic centimeters; whereas the formulary provides that 
fluidextract of colchicum corm shall yield not less than 0.31 gram of colchicine 
per 100 cubic centimeters, and the standard of strength, quality, and purity of 
the article was not declared on the container. Adulteration of the tincture of 
belladonna was alleged in that it was sold under a name recognized in the 
United States Pharmacopoeia, tenth revision, and differed from the standard 
of strength, quality, and purity as determined by the test laid down in the said 
pharmacopoeia, since it yielded more than 0.033 gram of the alkaloids of bella- 
donna leaves per 100 cubic centimeters, namely, not less than 0.036 gram of the 
alkaloids of belladonna leaves per 100 cubic centimeters; whereas the pharma- 
copoeia provides that tincture of belladonna shall yield not more than 0.033 
gram of the alkaloids of belladonna leaves per 100 cubic centimeters, and the 
standard of strength, quality, and purity of the article was not declared on the 
container. Adulteration was alleged for the further reason that the strength 
and purity of the articles fell below the professed standard and quality under 
which they were sold.
Misbranding was alleged for the reason that the statement, " Fluid Extract 
Colchicum Corm N. F. V. * * * Standard—0.31 to 0.39 Gm. Colchicine per 
100 cc." with respect to the fluidextract of colchicum corm, and the statement, 
"Tincture Belladonna, U. S. P. X. * * * Standard—0.027 to 0.033 Gm. 
Alkaloids per 100 cc."-with respect to the tincture belladonna, were false and 
misleading.
On September 20, 1934, a plea of nolo contendere was entered on behalf of 
the defendant company and the court imposed a fine of $200.
M. L. WILSON, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.