18487. Misbranding of  Hill's   rbeumatlc   and   grout   remedy.    U.   S.   v.   32
Bottles of Hill's Rheumatic and Gout Remedy. Default decree of 
condemnation, forfeiture, and destruction. (F. & D. No. 26778. 
I. S. No. 17513.    S. No.' 4531.)
Examination of a drug product, known as Hill's rheumatic and gout remedy, 
showed that the carton and bottle labels bore statements representing that the 
article possessed curative and therapeutic properties which, in fact, it did not 
possess. The article was in further violation of the law, since it was repre- 
sented to be guaranteed under the Federal food and drugs act, whereas it did 
not comply with the said act.
On or about July 10, 1931, the United States attorney for the Southern 
District of Texas, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed
in the District Court of the United States for the district aforesaid a libel pray- 
ing seizure and condemnation of 32 bottles of Hill's rheumatic and gout remedy, 
remaining in the original unbroken packages at Houston, Tex., alleging that the 
article had been shipped by the Hill Products Co., from Orange, N. J., in part on 
or about April 22,1930, and in part on or about November 24. 1930, and had been 
transported from the State of New Jersey into the State of Texas, and charging 
misbranding in violation of the food and drugs act.
Analysis of a sample of the article by this department showed that it con- 
sisted essentially of potassium acetate (7.6 grams per 100 c. c), suspended vege- 
table matter and water (91 per cent).
It was alleged in the libel that the article was misbranded in that the follow- 
ing statements, " Guaranteed by Hill Medicine Co., under the Food and Drug 
Act June 30, 1906, Guar. No. 3467," were false and misleading. Misbranding 
was alleged for the further reason that the following statements appearing on 
the bottle and carton labels, regarding the curative and therapeutic effects of 
the article, were false and fraudulent, since it contained no ingredient or 
combination of ingredients capable of producing the effects claimed: (Carton) 
" Rheumatic and Gout Remedy for Rheumatism, Gout and Lumbago. * * * 
.Gout Remedy * * * Rheumatism Remedy;" (bottle) "Rheumatic and 
Gout Remedy a medicine for Rheumatism, Gout and Lumbago. This Remedy is 
for the above stated diseases only and will relieve when all others fail. * * * 
Directions for Rheumatism, Sciatica and Lumbago   *    *    *    for Gout."
On August 10, 1931, 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.
ABTHTJB M. HYDE, Secretwy of Agriculture.