4356. Misbranding of "Root Juice Compound." U. S. v. 72 Bottles "Boot?
Juice Compound." Default decree of condemnation, forfeiture,?
and destruction.     (F. & D. No. 5903.    I. S. No. 15061-h.    S. No. E-89.)
On September 9, 1914, the United. States attorney for the Northern District?
of Georgia, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the?
District Court of the United States for said district a libel for the seizure and.?
condemnation of 72 bottles of "Root Juice Compound," remaining unsold in?
the original unbroken packages at Columbus, Ga., alleging that the article had?
been shipped on or about April 10, 1914, and transported from the State of?
Indiana into the State of Georgia, and charging misbranding in violation of the?
Food and Drugs Act,'as amended. The article was labeled, in part: (On ship??
ping case) "Root Juice Compound." (On bottle) "Improved Formula Root?
Juice Compound. Alcohol 20?. A Blood Purifying System Tonic. Guaranteed?
by Root Juice Medicine Co. under the Pure Food and Drugs Act, June 30, 1906.?
Serial No. 800-A. Directions: Shake the bottle. Adults: Take one tablespoon-?
ful before each meal. Children over 5 years may take one teaspoonful before?
each meal. Important: For full particulars concerning the use of this medicine,?
read the enclosed circular carefully. Distributed only by Root Juice Medicine?
Co., Fort Wayne, Ind., U. S. A." (On carton) "Indicated in.cases of * * *?
muscular weakness, loss of energy." (In circular) "Blood Purifying Sys??
tem Tonic For Functional Disturbances of Stomach, Liver, Kidneys and Bowels?
caused by run-down, over worked or nerve-strained conditions and indicated in?
cases of * * * muscular weakness, loss of energy and similar complaints?
due to * * * other impurities in the blood." " The splendid result to be?
obtained from the use of Root Juice Compound is due not only to the remark??
able efficiency of its ingredients but also to the scientific skill with which they?
are proportioned and combined." "A short treatment with Root Juice Com??
pound in tablespoonful doses before each meal will not only promote the?
healthy action of the liver and bowels but will purify the blood, strengthen and?
build up the system. The results from its use will be curative and lasting?
* * *." " Root Juice by its tonic action upon the stomach, improves digestion,?
causes the blood to be properly nourished and purified, relieves the strain upon?
the kidneys and gives nature a chance to restore their normal conditions.?
Moreover Root Juice has direct action upon the kidneys, strengthening and?
toning the entire urinary tract." " It will build you up, increase your energy,?
vim and vitality. It is a splendid tonic for young or old and unequaled as a?
spring cleanser and purifier. It; is an admirable family medicine tonic - and?
restorative."
Misbranding of the article was alleged in the libel for the reason that it?
contained no ingredients or combination of ingredients capable of producing?
the therapeutic effects claimed by the statements hereinbefore set out, appear??
ing upon the cartons, bottles, and circulars, and for the further reason that?
said statements were false, misleading, and fraudulent. Misbranding was?
alleged for the further reason that the label declared the article to contain 20?
per cent alcohol, which was false and misleading, because it did not contain?
20 per cent alcohol but contained only 12.72 per cent, and further, for the?
reason that the labels announced the preparation as being " Root Juice Com??
pound," and referred, to the same throughout the circular as "Root Juice,"?
whereas, in truth and in fact, it was not a root juice, and the said name " Root?
Juice " was false and misleading.
On December 10, 1915, no claimant having appeared for the property, judg??
ment of condemnation and forfeiture was entered, and it was ordered by the?
court that the product should be destroyed by the United States marshal.
C. F. MABVIN, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.
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'BUREAU' OF CHEMISTRY.?'       [Supplement 18.