18542. Misbranding of Dr. Lee's vegetable female cordial.    U. S. v. 3 Dozen
Bottles of Dr. Lee's "Vegetable Female Cordial. Default decree of 
condemnation, forfeiture, and destruction. (F. & D. No. 26259. I. S. 
No. 29708.    S. No. 4409.)
Examination of a drug product, known as Dr. Lee's vegetable female cordial, 
from the shipment herein described having shown that the article contained 
less alcohol than declared on the label, and that the carton and bottle labels 
bore statements representing that it possessed curative and therapeutic prop- 
erties which it did not possess, the Secretary of Agriculture reported the mat- 
ter to the United States attorney for the eastern district of Pennsylvania.
On April 25, 1931, the United States attorney filed in the district court of the 
United States for the district aforesaid a libel praying seizure and condemna- 
tion of three dozen bottles of Dr. Lee's vegetable female cordial, remaining in 
the original unbroken packages at Easton, Pa., consigned by Brewer & Co. 
(Inc.), Worcester, Mass., alleging that the article had been shipped from Wor- 
cester, Mass., January 16, 1931, and had been transported from the State of 
Massachusetts into the State of Pennsylvania, and charging misbranding 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 extracts of plant drugs such as viburnum, sugar, alcoho) 
(by volume 8.3 per cent), and water.
It was alleged in the libel that the article was misbranded in that the state- 
ment on the carton label, "Alcohol 12%," was false and misleading when ap- 
plied to an article containing a less amount. Misbranding was alleged for 
the further reason that the package failed to bear a statement on the label 
of the quantity or proportion of alcohol contained in the article, since the declar- 
ation was incorrect. Misbranding was alleged for the further reason that the 
following statements appearing on the carton and bottle labels, regarding 
the curative and therapeutic effects of the said article, were false and fraudu- 
lent, since the said article contained no ingredient or combination of ingredients 
capable of producing the effects claimed: (Carton) " Female Cordial * * * 
Highly recommended for Nervous Prostration, Sick Headache, Chronic Conges- 
tion, Inflammation of the Womb, Irregular or Painful Menstruation, Leucor- 
rhea, Vomiting in Pregnancy and All Diseases Peculiar to Women. For Re- 
lieving Pain it has no equal * * * speedily restores the system wasted by 
disease to a healthy normal condition. * * * Female Regulator * * * 
The Great Female Remedy For Women;" (bottle) "Female Cordial * * * 
Suggested as a treatment for certain Weakening Disorders of the Female Gen- 
erative Organs in ailments not requiring Surgical Treatment."
On May 22, 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.
ARTHUR M. HYDE, Secretary of Agriculture.