9919. Misbranding of Princess Brand pennyroyal, tansy, and cotton  root
bark compound pills. U. S. * * * v. 3,693 Packages, More or 
Less, of Princess Brand Pennyroyal, Tansy, and Cotton Root Bark 
Compound Pills. Default decree of condemnation, forfeiture, and 
destruction.     (F. & D. No. 15020.    Inv. No. 32798.    S. No. E-3411.)
On July 7, 1921, the United States attorney for the' District of Columbia, 
acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the Supreme 
Court of the District aforesaid, holding a district court, a libel for the seizure 
and condemnation of 3,693 packages, more or less, of Princess Brand penny- 
royal, tansy, and cotton root bark compound pills, at Washington, D. C, alleg- 
ing that the article was being offered for sale in the District of Columbia, and 
charging misbranding in violation of the Food and Drugs Act, as amended.
Analysis of a sample of the article by the Bureau of Chemistry of this de- 
partment showed that the pills contained aloes.
Misbranding of the article was alleged in substance in the libel for the 
reason that the labels on the boxes containing the said article and the circulars 
accompanying the same bore the following statements regarding the curative 
and therapeutic effects thereof, (box) " * * * A Safe Reliable, Powerful, 
Yet Harmless Emmenagogue * * *," (circular) " * * * For use in the 
suppression of irregularities of the menses. These pills are efficient in their 
results, * * * In cases when the period is irregular, it is best to com- 
mence the use of these pills three or four days before the expected time by 
taking one pill every four hours until the time arrives. Young girls approach- 
ing the time of puberty, or who have not overcome the functional derangements 
induced by that momentous change in their life can be given these pills with 
great benefit restoring elasticity to the step, brightness to the eye, and cheer- 
fulness to the disposition. Reliable, * * *," which statements were false 
and fraudulent, since the said article contained no ingredient or combination of 
ingredients capable of producing the effects claimed and in that they were 
applied to the said article so as to represent falsely and fraudulently, and to 
create in the minds of purchasers thereof the impression and belief, that it 
possessed the curative and therapeutic qualities claimed for it, whereas, in 
truth and in fact, it did not.
On October 3, .1921, 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 be destroyed by the United States marshal.
C. W. PUGSLEY, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.