25840. Mlsbrandlngr of Adams Vapour Ointment, Adams Menthol Salve, Adams
Menthol Jell, and Adams Painon Liniment. IT. S. v. 550 Jars of 
Adams Vapour Ointment, et al. Default decree of condemnation, for- 
feiture, and destruction. (F. & D. nos. 36636, 36637, 36638, 36639. Sam- 
ple nos. 48045-B, 48046-B, 48047-B, 48049-B.)
False and fraudulent curative and therapeutic claims were made for these 
articles, and false and misleading antiseptic claims also were made for the 
menthol salve.
On November 22, 1935, the United States attorney for the Northern District 
of Illinois, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
district court a libel praying seizure and condemnation of 667 jars of Adams 
Vapour Ointment, 910 jars of Adams Menthol Salve, 1,136 jars of Adams 
Menthol Jell, and 3,003 bottles of Adams Painon Liniment at Chicago, Ill., alleg- 
ing that the articles had been shipped in interstate commerce on or about Octo- 
ber 7, 1935, by the Adams Paper & Specialties Co., from Waterloo, Iowa, to 
Chicago, Ill., and charging misbranding in violation of the Food and Drugs Act. 
The articles were labeled in part: (Jar) "Adams Vapour Ointment [or "Menthol 
Salve", "Menthol Jell", or "Painon Liniment"] Sold Exclusively by Adams 
Affiliated Cos. Waterloo."
Analyses showed that the vapour ointment consisted essentially of menthol, 
camphor, rosin, and petrolatum; that the menthol salve consisted essentially of 
menthol, rosin, and petrolatum (a bacteriological examination showed that it 
was not antiseptic); that the Menthol Jell consisted essentially of menthol, 
camphor, and white petrolatum; and that the Painon Liniment consisted essen- 
tially of petroleum oil, pine-needle oil, and sassafras oil.
The several articles were alleged to be misbranded in that the following 
statements appearing upon the labels of said articles of drugs, respectively, 
(Adams Vapour Ointment, jars) "* * * by increasing the circulation of the 
blood throughout affected area you will help to allay the inflammation and 
reduce the fever. * * * An Auxiliary Treatment for Certain Forms of 
Inflammation and Congestion such as Asthma Bronchitis Catarrh Chest 
Colds Sore Throat Croup * * * Boils * * * Pains"; (Adams Menthol 
Salve, jars) "Healing * * * for Cuts * * *"; (Adams Menthol Jell, 
jars) "Recommended for Nervous Headaches Muscular Rheumatism Nasal Ca- 
tarrh * * *"; (Adams Painon Liniment, bottles) "Painon * * * Recom- 
mended by us in the treatment of Muscular Rheumatism, Lumbago, Stiff Neck, 
Neuralgic Headache, * * * Sciatica * * * Wind Colic, Muscular Cramp, 
Bronchial Cough, Spasmodic Croup, and Acute Pleurisy", were false and fraudu- 
lent in this that the said articles of drugs were not effective in the treatment 
of the diseases and conditions referred to therein.
The menthol salve was alleged to be misbranded further in that the following 
statement on the jar label thereof, "An * * * Antiseptic * * * Oint- 
ment", was false and misleading.
On February 3, 1936, no claimant having appeared, a default decree of con- 
demnation, forfeiture, and destruction was entered.
W. R. GBEGG, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.