23978. Adulteration and misbranding of Friable Pills Ho. 342 Bland and Oint- 
ment Ammoniated Mercury. U. S. v. Standard Pharmacal Co. Plea of 
guilty. Fine, $50. (F. & D. no. 38064. Sample nos. 33401-B, 67277-B, 
57281-B, 57282-B.)
The Friable Pills No. 342 Blaud differed from the standard prescribed in the 
United States Pharmacopoeia for Blaud's pills in that each pill contained less 
than 0.06 gram of ferrous carbonate. The Ointment Ammoniated Mercury 
contained less ammoniated mercury than the proportion thereof represented on 
the label.
On November 19, 1936, the United States attorney for the Northern District 
of Illinois, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
district court an information against the Standard Pharmacal Co., Chicago, Ill., 
charging shipment by said corporation in violation of the Food and Drugs Act, 
from the State of Illinois on or about May 26, 1936, into the State of Indiana, 
and on or about May 29, 1936, into the States of Michigan and Indiana of quan- 
tities of an article, labeled "Friable Pills No. 342 Blaud", that was adulterated 
and misbranded; and on or about May 29, 1936, into the State of Indiana, of an 
article, labeled "Ointment Ammoniated Mercury", that was adulterated and 
misbranded.
The Friable Pills No. 342 Blaud were alleged to be adulterated in that they 
were sold under and by a name recognized in the United States Pharmacopoeia, 
and differed from the standard of strength, quality, and purity as determined 
by the test laid down in said pharmacopoeia in that samples from each of the 
three shipments were found to contain not more than 0.0108 gram of ferrous 
carbonate in one case, not more than 0.01 gram in a second case, and not more 
than 0.0093 gram, respectively, in a third case; whereas said pharmacopoeia 
provides that Blaud's pills shall contain not less than 0.06 gram of ferrous 
carbonate, and the standard of strength, quality, and purity of the article was 
not declared on the container thereof. Said article was alleged to be misbranded 
in that it was deficient in ferrous carbonate, prepared in imitation of Blaud's 
pills, and was offered for sale and sold under the name of another article, 
namely, Pills Brand.
The Ointment Ammoniated Mercury was alleged to be adulterated in that 
it was sold under and by a name recognized in the United States Pharmacopoeia 
and differed from the standard of strength, quality, and purity as determined 
by the test laid down in said pharmacopoeia, in that 100 grams of the article 
contained not more than 7.36 grams of ammoniated mercury; whereas said 
pharmacopoeia provides that ointment of ammoniated mercury shall contain 
not less than 10 grams of ammoniated mercury, and the standard of strength, 
quality, and purity of the article was not declared on the container thereof. 
Said article was alleged to be misbranded in that the statement, "Ointment 
Ammoniated Mercury * * * Represents: Ammoniated Mercury 10 per 
cent * * *", borne on the package, was false and misleading in that it 
represented that the article contained 10 percent of ammoniated mercury; 
whereas in fact it contained less than 10 percent of ammoniated mercury.
On February 2, 1937, a plea of guilty was entered on behalf of the defendant 
corporation, and the court imposed a fine of $50.
HAEBT L. BROWN, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.