18731. Misbranding of   Breeden's   rheumatic   compound.    U.   S.   v.   5   6-0
Dozen Bottles of Breeden'* Rheumatic Compound. Default decree 
of condemnation, forfeiture, and destruction. (F. & D. No. 26337. 
I. S. No. 27544.    S. No. 4421.)
Examination of a drug product, known as Breeden's rheumatic compound, 
from the shipment herein described having shown that the carton and bottle 
labels and the accompanying circular bore statements representing that the 
article possessed curative and therapeutic properties which it did not possess, 
the Secretary of Agriculture reported the matter to the United States attorney 
for the Southern District of Florida.
On May 20, 1931, the United States attorney filed in the District Court of 
-the United States for -the district aforesaid a libel praying seizure and con- 
demnation of five and five-sixths dozen bottles of Breeden's rheumatic com- 
pound, remaining in the original unbroken packages at Tampa, Fla., alleging 
that the article had been shipped by the Breeden Drug Co. (Inc.), from Mem- 
phis, Tenn., on or about October 25, 1930, and had been transported from the 
State of Tennessee into the State of Florida, and charging misbranding in 
violation of the food and drugs act as amended.
Analysis of a sample of Breeden's rheumatic compound by this department 
showed that it consisted essentially of potassium iodide (1.3 grams per 100 
milliliters), extracts of plant drugs, sugar, alcohol, and water.
It was alleged in the libel that the article was misbranded in that the follow- 
ing statements regarding the curative or therapeutic effects of the said article, 
appearing in the labeling, were false and fraudulent, since the said article 
contained no ingredient or combination of ingredients capable of producing the 
effects claimed: (Carton) "Rheumatic Compound for Rheumatism; " (circular) 
"Rheumatic Compound. We recommend it for Rheumatism. If you have 
Rheumatism use * * * Rheumatic Compound. This medicine has been 
tested for years, and the praise which it has received from the trade, and the 
good results of its use by sufferers from the disease of Rheumatism, cause us, 
the manufacturers, to unhesitatingly recommend it We believe we have made 
it as perfect a preparation for the relief of Rheumatism as it is possible for us 
to do;" (bottle) " Rheumatic Compound * * * Rheumatism * *v * 
Direction: * * * until it acts freely on the Liver, then reduce dose to 
suit the system if according to directions it acts too freely."
On June 15, 1931, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgment 
of condemnation and forfeiture was entered, and it was ordered by the court 
that the products be destroyed by the United States marshal.
ABTHTIB M. HIDE, Secretary of Agriculture.