13268. Misbranding of DeWitt's eclectic cure and DeWitt's liver, blood 
and kidney remedy. U. S. v. 24 Bottles of DeWitt's Eclectic Cure 
and 26 Bottles of DeWitt's Liver, Blood & Kidney Remedy. De- 
fault decrees of condemnation, forfeiture, and destruction.     (F, &
D. No. 16543.    S. No. E-4016.)
On July 14, 1922, the United States attorney for the Southern District of 
Georgia, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
District Court of the United States for said district libels praying the seizure 
and condemnation of 24 bottles of DeWitt's eclectic cure and 26 bottles of 
DeWitt's liver, blood & kidney remedy, at Axson, Ga., alleging that the articles 
had been shipped by the W. J. Parker Co., from Baltimore, Md., June 1, 1922, 
and transported from the State of Maryland into the State of Georgia, and 
charging misbranding in violation of the food and drugs act as amended. 
The DeWitt's eclectic cure was labeled in part: (Bottle) "Dr. DeWitts Ec- 
lectic Cure * * * For Cramps, Colic and Diarrhoea * * * Indiges- 
tion * * * Horse Colic," (carton) "Cure * * * for Indigestion, Diar- 
rhoea, Cramps, Colic, Neuralgia, Headache, Toothache, Sore Throat, etc. * * * 
Cholera * * * Cholera Morbus * * * Rheumatism and pains gen- ' 
erally * * * Sprains or Frosted Feet," (circular) "Cure * * * For 
Indigestion. Diarrhoea, Cramps, Cramp Colic, Neuralgia, Headache, Tooth- 
ache, sore throat, etc. Spasmodic attacks * * * Swelling of the Stomach 
* * * Sprains * * * Horse Colic * * * Chicken Cholera." The 
DeWitt's liver, blood & kidney remedy was labeled in part: (Bottle and cir- 
cular) "Dr. DeWitts Liver, Blood And Kidney Remedy * * * Recom- 
mended for Relief * * * Diabetes, Inflammation of the Bladder, Malaria, 
General Debility, Pains Under Shoulder Blades, Back and Sides, And Diseases 
arising from Derangement of Kidneys and Liver," (carton same as above 
except no reference to diabetes, but the following additional words appeared) 
" Blood Purifier And For Kidney And Liver Diseases."
Analyses of samples of the articles by the Bureau of Chemistry of this 
department showed that the liver, blood, and kidney remedy consisted essen- 
tially of magnesium sulphate, extracts of plant drugs, including senna and 
buchu, a trace of iodid, alcohol, and water, and that the eclectic cure con- 
sisted essentially of volatile oils, including peppermint and sassafras oils, 
spices, including capsicum and ginger, ether, alcohol, and water.
Misbranding of the articles was alleged in the libels for the reason that the 
above-quoted statements, regarding the curative and therapeutic effects of 
the said articles, were false and fraudulent, since they contained no ingre- 
dients or combinations of ingredients capable of producing the effects claimed.
On April 10, 1925, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgments 
of condemnation and forfeiture were entered, and it was1 ordered by the court 
that the products be destroyed by the United States marshal.
R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.