Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-09-30
Federal Courts Condemn More
Than so Misbranded Medicines
Fraudulent Claims AS to Curative Powers Cause
Legal Actions by Government under Sherley
Amendment to the Food and Drugs Act

Moro IMAM naII q nunQTGu lcBtl uCliouS
have beon terminated successfully under
tho sherloy amendment to tho food/and
drug act. which prohibits false and frau"
dulent claims as to the curative or Their
apeutic effects of drugs or medicines.
Criminal prosecutions against the manu-
fncturors we're brought in 2o cases. but In
81 instances the falsely and fraudulently
labeled medicines were seized while In
interstate commerce Claims made by the
manufacturers for the curative powers or
these preparations ranged from tubcrcu-
losis, smallpox and diphtheria to coughs,
colds and scalp diseases A number OF
other criminal prosecutions and seizures
are pending in various federal courts
throughout the United States because of
alleged violations Of the Sherley amend
ment similar to those which have already
been tried. The officials charged with the
enforcement of the food and drugs act are
Of the opinion that the evils Of the patent
medicine business can be stopped only by
the most drastic action.
1t Is pointed out that traffic In rned-
cines for which false and fraudulent claims
are made is not only an economic fraud
OF the worst kind. In that worthless
preparation that costs but a few cents is
frequently sold for q dollar or more n
bottle, hut that health, and even life, Is
endangered by failure to secure the ser
vice of n physician in such serious dis
| eases as tuberculosis. dphtheria, pneu-
/ monia and scarlet fever, until too late,
because reliance may have been placed
In the curative powers of some worthless
preparation which Is claimed to be n
never-failing remedy. The deluded vic
| tim may not realize his danger until the
disease has reached n stage too far adj
yanced for even the ablest physicians to
cope with It. Effective treatment depends
in most cases on applying 1t during the
early stages of the disease
NAME FAILS TO SAVE.
The Houchens Medicine company Of Bal
timore. Md. pleaded guilty to the charge
that a preparation called Family Physi-
clan" and shipped by them into inter
state commerce was falsely and fraud
! ulently labeled. Among the many dis
| eases for which this medicine was recon-
mended by the manufacturers in state
| ments appearing on the labels and aC-
| complaining circulars were diphtheria
scarlet fever, typhoid fever, smallpox
bronchitis. neuralgia. Group and all dis
eases Of the throat and lungs. The fol
| lowing quotations from the label, carton
or circular are interesting: THE Public
| Is hereby assured that this is the Cen
uine and Original Family Physician
/ For fever you need not give
anything else but this Medicine, Il
will keep the rash out itself.
For cases OF Small Pox take plenti
and often-Use freely. Give no hot teas
just give the medicine and what pimple:
are under the skin will come out, tn,
| rest will he carried off by the medicine
Also wonderful and positiv,
remedy for dyspepsia. keeps measles GU
nicely. regulates the bowels without trou
BILE, and by purifying the blood prevents
your liability to disease"
Analysis Of the product, which wa.
claimed by the manufacturer to be effeC
tive In the treatment Of so many virulen
and contagious diseases as we'll as n va
riety OF minor ills. showed that ii was
syrup containing 1872 per cent non-vola
tile matter. SO per cent. alcohol, anise
and a vegetable cathartic drug. The gov
eminent. therefore. charged that the med
icine did not contain ingredients or medi
cinal agents effective for the relief anC
cure Of the diseases which it was claimed
to cure. The court imposed a fine of SIS
MADE REMARKABLE CLAIMS.
a plea Of guilty was entered by II. A
Ingham & Co. of Nergennes Vt, to tn,
charge that statements and claims as t,
curative powers OF a product called "Dr
II. A. Ingham's Vegetable Expectoran
Nervine Pain Extractor were false an,
fraudulent An analysis of sample o
the product by the bureau of chemistr,
showed the same to contain alcohol, S
per cent; opium alkaloids. camphor. cap
sicum, and vegetable extractive matter
The government. therefore. alleged tina
the medicine did not contain ingredient
or medicinal agents effective, as the label
or circulars asserted. to subdue ragin;
fever. or to cure typhoid fever, lun,
fever, scarlet fever. rheumatic fever, chol
era. dysentery, sunstroke, diphtheria
bleeding at the lungs, nervous exhaus
ton. or piles, or to prevent fits of apo
plexy and epilepsy when coming on. o
to heal without inflammation or sufferin
all wounds, sprains. or burns, or to breal
up n felon, or to cure congestion of tn
lungs, pleurisy, fits of apoplexy, chroni
rheumatism. paralyzed limbs, and GROUP
1t was also alleged by the Eovernmen
that the statements For teething an,
restless children. II Is not only safe an,