20740. Misbranding of Hutcbison's Big? Head liniment. V. S. v. 29 Small 
Bottles and 65 Large Bottles of Hutchison's Bis Head Liniment. 
So claim entered. Verdict for the Government. Decree of con- 
demnation and destruction. (F. & D. no. 27972. I. S. nos. 53667, 
53668.)
Examination of the drug preparation involved in this case disclosed that 
it contained no ingredient or combination of ingredients capable of producing 
certain curative and therapeutic effects claimed in the carton and bottle labels, 
and in a leaflet and testimonials accompanying the article.
On April 5, 1932, the United States attorney for the Western District of 
Louisiana, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
District Court of the United States a libel praying seizure and condemnation 
of 29 small bottles and 65 large bottles of Hutchison's Big Head liniment, 
remaining in the original unbroken packages at Shreveport, La., alleging that 
the article had been shipped in interstate commerce on or about January 9, 
1932, by the Hutchison Medicine Co., from Texarkana, Tex., to Shreveport, 
La., 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 a petroleum distillate such as kerosene, turpentine oil 
and a trace of mercuric chloride.
It was alleged in the libel that the article was misbranded in that the fol- 
lowing statements regarding its curative and therapeutic effects were false 
and fraudulent: (Carton, large) "Big Head * * * A Remedy For Big 
Head * * * Fistula, Poll Evil * * * Splint * * * Spavin, Ring 
Hoof   *   *    *   is   good   for   human    ailments.    *   *    *   for    Rheumatism
* * * Sciatica, Lumbago, Lame Back * * * Soreness in the Chest, Side 
or Back and Cramps in the Muscles. * * * And Bunions * * * for 
human ailments, such as rheumatism, * * * sciatica, lumbago, lame back, 
stiff joints, * * * pains in the side and back, cramps in the muscles and 
sore throat. A fine remedy in treating pneumonia and stubborn coughs, when 
applied to the chest, will relieve the tightness and loosen up the cough in a 
remarkable manner * * * for any ailment * * * Any one troubled 
with piles will find this Liniment an excellent remedy. It takes out the sore- 
ness and helps to remove the small tumors usually found in such cases * * * 
[Testimonials] ' I had a horse with the worst case of fistula I ever saw and 
doctored it with everything I knew of with no success, but after using Big 
Head Liniment the horse is now sound and well and am working him every 
day.' ' * * * and other ailments * * *'; ' * * * it relieves croup and 
sore throat'; * * * For Fistula After the Knife Failed ***'*** 
with fistula of two years' standing,    *    *    * '; ' *    *    *   great results on two
. cases fistula »;***« No remedy I have ever used gives such good results 
for fistula and pollevil.'"; (carton and bottle label, small) " Recommended 
by us in treating muscular rheumatism and cramps, lumbago, sciatica, * * * 
pleurisy pains,    *   *   *   stiff neck or back,  bronchial coughs,   sore  throat
* * * ordinary sores"; (small bottle label, only) "For tightness in 
chest   *    *    *    ordinary sore throat"; (large bottle label, fruit)  "Big Head
* * * A Remedy For Big Head, * * * Fistula, Poll Evil, * * * 
Splint, * * * Spavin, Ring Hoof, * * * Sores of any kind"; (large 
bottle label, back) "For human ailments such as rheumatism * * * 
sciatica, lame back, lumbago, stiff joints, * * * boils, felons, cramps, sore 
throat, pains in the side or chest * * * in case of pneumonia or stubborn 
coughs will relieve the tightness and loosen up the cough in a remarkable 
manner. For piles it relieves the soreness and helps remove the small tumors 
found in such cases, * * * numerous ailments * * * for human ail- 
ments. * * * to parts affected * * * and in bad cases"; (leaflet) 
"Big Head * * * a cure * * * For fistula and poll evil which are 
the same disease  in  character,    *    *    *    where  the  fistula  is  discharging
* * * Fistula and Poll-evil are rather deep seated but the Big Head- Lini- 
ment is very penetrating and brings the disease to the surface. * * * For 
Big Head, * * * splint, spavin, ring bone * * * for splint, spavin 
and ring bone, be sure to rub the enlargement briskly, * * * The Lini- 
ment will readily remove the soreness or lameness but it takes a little time 
and patience to remove the enlargement * * * other lameness in the 
shoulders and fruit legs,    *    *    *   for any ailment on man or beast."
On June 9, 1932, no claimant having appeared for the property and a jury 
having found that the allegations of the libel were true and correct, judgment
of condemnation was entered, and it was ordered by the court that the product 
be destroyed by the United States marshal.
R. G. Braswell, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.