17755. Misbranding of Pabst's O. K. specific.    U.  S. v. 3 Dozen Bottles,  et
al., of Pabst's O. K. Specific. Default decrees of condemnation, 
forfeiture, and destruction. (F. & D. Nos. 25071, 25072, 24977. I. S. 
Nos. 7305, 7310, 7311.    S. Nos. 3319, 3347, 3348.)
Examination of samples of a drug product, known as Pabst's O. K. specific, 
from one of the herein-described interstate shipments, having shown that the 
labels bore claims of curative properties that the article did not possess, the 
Secretary of Agriculture reported the matter to the United States attorney for 
the Eastern District of Michigan.
On or about August 14 and August 30, 1930, respectively, the said United 
States attorney filed in the District Court of the United States for the district 
aforesaid libels praying seizure and condemnation of 27 dozen bottles of the 
so id Pabst's O. K. specific at Detroit, Mich., alleging that the article had been 
shipped by the Pabst Chemical Co., Chicago, Ill., in various consignments, on or 
about July 11, July 23, and July 24, 1930, respectively, and had been trans- 
ported from the State of Illinois into the State of Michigan, and charging mis- 
branding in violation of the food and drugs: act as amended.
Analysis of a sample of the article by this department showed that it con- 
sisted essentially of cubeb oil, copaiba, extracts of plant drugs including buchu. 
alcohol, sugar, and water.
It was alleged in the libels that the article was misbranded in that the 
following statements appearing on the bottle label and wrapper, and in the 
accompanying circular, regarding the curative and therapeutic effects of the 
said article, were false and fraudulent, since the article contained no ingre- 
dient or combination of ingredients capable of producing the effects claimed: 
(Wrapper and bottle)   " O. K. Okay Specific;"  (wrapper)   "Absolutely safe
* * * Take It and You Will Not Be Disappointed; " (small circular, entitled 
'? The Okay Tonic ") " Men * * * who had just completed a treatment with 
our Okay Specific and felt the need of * * * a medicine to overcome the 
after effects of acute infections. * * * these patients * * * following 
a debilitating sickness. * * * ' Tonic' is not to be taken at the same time 
you take the ' Okay Specific' When you are through with the treatment for 
Gonorrhea and Gleet, then we would advise you to take some of our ' Okay 
Tonic' * * * It has a soothing effect on the * * * organs that were 
affected by your recent illness. * * * Do not confuse the Okay Tonic with 
the Okay Specific. It is not to be taken instead of the Okay Specific, but as an 
After Treatment. When you have been cured of the Gonorrhoea, then use the 
Okay Tonic [similar statements in several foreign languages];" (large circular 
entitled "Pabst's Okay Specific") "Take the medicine regularly in full doses 
without interrupting the treatment until satisfactory results have been ob- 
tained; continue taking the medicine for fifteen days after all outward signs 
have disappeared. * * * Chronic Cases. Pabst's Okay Specific is especially 
beneficial in chronic cases.   These cases, which are usually of long standing,
* * * generally disappear after using the Okay Specific. Of course, it 
must not be expected that a case of many years' standing will disappear after 
taking one bottle of the medicine; very old cases may require more time and 
longer treatment, and several bottles, sometimes four or five, of the medicine 
may have to be taken before satisfactory results are obtained, * * * if the 
case is one of long standing, continue for ten to fifteen days with full doses 
after all outward signs have disappeared, and then ten to fifteen days more in 
gradually diminished doses." (Similar statements in several different foreign 
languages.)
On October 9, 1930, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgments 
of condemnation and forfeiture were entered, and it was ordered by the court 
that the product be destroyed by the United States marshal.
ARTHUR M. HYDE, Secretary of Agriculture.