10392. Misbranding of Pierce's Empress' Brand tansy, cotton root, penny- 
royal, and apiol tablets. U. S. * * * v. 12 Dozen Boxes of 
* * * Pierce's Empress Brand Tansy * * * Tablets. De- 
fault  decree  of condemnation, forfeiture, and  destruction.     (F.  &
D. No. 13347.    I. S. Nos. 10014-t, 10015-t.     S. No. W-670.)
On September 1, 1920, the United States attorney for the Southern District 
of California, 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 12 dozen boxes of Pierce's Empress Brand tansy, cotton root, 
pennyroyal and apiol tablets, remaining in the original unbroken packages at 
Los Angeles, Calif., alleging that the article had been shipped by Robert J. 
Cotter,- New York, N. Y., on or about March 25, 1920, and transported from the 
State of New York into the State of California, 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 tablets contained iron sulphate, aloes, and penny- 
royal oil.
Misbranding of the article was alleged in substance in the libel for the rea- 
son that the bottles or packages contain'ng the said article and the accompany- 
ing circulars were each labeled in part as follows, (package) " * * * Tansy,. 
Cotton Root, Pennyroyal and Apiol Tablets A Safe Emmenagogue. Always Re- 
liable And Effective. The Best Known Remedy For The Suppression Of 
The Menstrual Function," (circular) "* * * Tansy, Cotton Root, Penny- 
royal and Apiol Tablets * * * The Combined [Celebrated] Female 
Regulator * * * Delayed Menstruations When the suppression is 
of long standing * * * take one * * * until four days before the t'me 
when the menses should appear. * * * immediately preceding the ex- 
pected appearance of the menstrual flow, active treatment should begin. Take 
one * * * three times daily, * * * follow * * * instructions 
* * * until the desired result is obtained. * * * Irregularities Where- 
the menses are not regular, * * * are invaluable. Take * * * before 
the expected appearance of the menstrual flow [period] * * *," which state- 
ments were false and fraudulent, since the said article contained no ingredient 
or combination of ingredients capable of producing the curative and thera- 
peutic effects claimed.
On April 6, 1921, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgment 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. PTJGSLEY, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.