NOTICE OF JUDGMENT NO. 987, FOOD AND DRUGS ACT.
MISBRANDING OF A DRUG PRODUCT—"HAARLEM OIL CAPSULES."
On or about November 15, 1909, The Holland Medicine Co., Scran- 
ton, Pa., shipped from the State of Pennsylvania into the State of 
New Jersey a quantity of a drug product labeled as follows: " Gold 
Medal Genuine Tilly Haarlem Oil Capsules, For kidney, liver and 
bladder. Holland Medicine Co. Scranton, Pa. Guaranteed under 
the Food and Drugs Act, June 30,1906, Serial No. 16466. The oldest, 
the surest kidney, liver and bladder remedy. Gold Medal Genuine 
Tilly Haarlem Oil used for over 200 years." Samples from this 
shipment were procured and analyzed by the Bureau of Chemistry, 
United States Department of Agriculture, and the product was found 
to consist of alcoholic insoluble matter, nonvolatile material, sulphur, 
volatile oil, methyl salicylate, and oil of amber. As the above analysis 
and report thereon showed that the product was misbranded within 
the meaning of the Food and Drugs Act of June 30, 1906, the Secre- 
tary of Agriculture afforded the said Holland Medicine Co. and the 
party from whom the samples were procured opportunities for hear- 
ings. As it appeared after hearings held that the shipment was 
made in violation of the act, the Secretary of Agriculture reported 
the facts to the Attorney-General with a statement of the evidence 
upon which to base a prosecution.
In due course a criminal information was filed in the District 
Court of the United States for the Middle District of Pennsylvania 
against the Holland Medicine Co., Inc., charging the above shipment 
and alleging that the product so shipped was misbranded in the fol- 
lowing particulars, to wit:
(1) The statement on said label " Genuine Haarlem Oil Capsules" 
is misleading and deceptive as it conveys the impression that the
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capsules are composed of pure Haarlem oil, whereas the analysis 
shows that methyl salicylate, which is not a normal ingredient of 
Haarlem oil, is present therein.
(2) The statement "The oldest and surest kidney, liver and blad- 
der remedy " is misleading and deceptive because it represents that 
the preparation is unfailing in its remedial action in diseases of the 
kidney, liver, and bladder, whereas the said preparation does not 
possess the remedial value claimed for it.
(3) The statement " The greatest remedy ever known for kidney, 
bladder, stomach, liver, gravel, internal inflammation and skin dis- 
eases " is misleading as it conveys the impression that this prepara- 
tion has therapeutic value in the treatment of the diseases mentioned, 
whereas it has no therapeutic value in such cases.
(4) The statement in the circular accompanying the package 
" Gold Medal Haarlem Oil has been the recognized remedy for 
diseases of the kidneys, liver, bladder and genital organs the world 
over for 200 years " is false and misleading because said statement 
conveys the impression that this preparation is a standard remedy 
for the diseases enumerated, whereas the preparation analyzed does 
not justify the above claim being made for it.
(5) The statement on said circular "The operation of this remedy 
is direct and certain " is misleading and deceptive because it is in 
effect a claim that the preparation acts directly upon the organs 
named and is unfailing in its remedial action in the diseases men- 
tioned, whereas said preparation does not justify the claims made 
for it in this statement.
(6) The statement "For gravel or stone in the bladder take one 
capsule until better, then every other day until cured. They will 
greatly expel the gravel without inconvenience or pain and prevent 
its reformation," is false, misleading, and deceptive, as said prepara- 
tion does not possess properties capable of producing the results 
claimed for it in this statement.
(7) The statement "For palpitation of the heart immediate relief 
may be obtained by inhaling the odor from a broken capsule" is 
misleading and deceptive as it conveys the impression that this 
preparation is valuable in this affection of the heart, whereas said 
preparation possesses no medicinal value in the treatment of-the affec- 
tion of the heart mentioned.
(8) The statement "In the treatment of bladder troubles and 
complications originated in the prostatic and urinary tracts * * * 
it seems to be a specific " is false and misleading as it indicates that 
said preparation is a certain cure for bladder troubles and complica- 
tions having their origin in the prostatic and urinary tracts, whereas 
said preparation does not possess the remedial value claimed for it in 
this statement.
987
On March 23, 1911, the defendant entered a plea of nolo contendere 
to the above information, whereupon the court imposed a fine of $10 
and costs.
This notice is given pursuant to section 4 of the Food and Drugs 
Act of June 30, 1906.
JAMES WILSON, 
Secretary of Agriculture. 
WASHINGTON, D. C., June 24,1911.
987
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