19396. Misbranding of Allen's rheumatic treatment. U. S. v. 72 Packages, 
et al., of Allen's Rheumatic Treatment. Default decrees of con- 
demnation, forfeiture, and destruction. (F. & D. Nos. 27723, 27775. 
I. S. Nos. 12666, 12682.    S. Nos. 5794, 5852.)
Examination of the drug product Allen's rheumatic treatment showed that the 
carton label and an accompanying circular contained statements representing 
that the article possessed curative and therapeutic properties which, in fact, it 
did not possess. The article consisted of two differently colored tablets, each 
of one kind containing 5 grains of acetanilid. The declaration of acetanilid was 
not made in manner required by law and the amount in each tablet was not 
declared, the declaration on the label being the total amount contained in all 
the tablets in the package, and the drug being described as phenylacetamide, 
a name sometimes used for acetanilid.
On February 8 and February 26, 1932, the United States attorney for the 
District of Oregon, acting upon reports by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed 
in the District Court of the United States for the district aforesaid libels pray- 
ing seizure and condemnation of 132 packages of the said Allen's rheumatic 
treatment, remaining in the original unbroken packages at Portland, Oreg., 
alleging that the article had been shipped by the Hart M. Allen Laboratories, 
from Los Angeles, Calif., in part on or about October 21, 1931, and in part 
on or about December 12, 1931, and had been transported from the State of 
California into the State of Oregon, 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 
consisted of two kinds of tablets. The white tablets contained acetanilide 
(5 grains each), caffeine, and sodium bicarbonate. The blue tablets contained 
acetylsalicylic acid (7.2 grains each).
It was alleged in the libels that the article was misbranded in that the 
package failed to bear a statement on the label of the quantity or proportion of 
acetanilid contained in the article, in that the substance, acetanilid, was not 
declared by the name by which it is designated in the law, and the label ou 
the packages failed to declare which of the tablets contained acetanilid and 
the quantity or proportion in each tablet. Misbranding was alleged for the 
reason that the following statements regarding the curative and therapeutic 
effects of the said article, appearing in the labeling, were false and fraud- 
ulent, since it contained no ingredient or combination of ingredients capable 
of producing the effects claimed: (Carton) "Rheumatic Treatment * * * 
A most excellent treatment for the quick relief of Neuritis, Lumbago, Gout.
* * * Directions Adults—Take two tablets (one of each color) every 
three hours until pain is relieved, then take two tablets three times a day 
as long as necessary. * * * gives quick relief from Rheumatism of all 
kinds, such as Sciatic, Articular, Muscular, Inflammatory;" (circular) "Rheu- 
matic Treatment * * * Rheumatic Treatment * * * a remedy that 
has no superior in the treatment of Rheumatism in all its forms, including 
Sciatic, Muscular, Inflammatory, and Articular, * * * a remedy for the 
quick  relief  of  Lumbago,   Gout,   Neuritis,    *    *    *    remarkably   effective  in
.Neuritis. * * * for quick and effective results Allen's Rheumatic Treat- 
ment * * * Rheumatic Treatment not only gives quick relief from pains 
and aches, But it is intended to give complete relief—to break up the most 
severe and stubborn cases of Rheumatism, Neuritis, Lumbago, Gout    *    *    *
Hundreds of unsolicited testimonials written to us * * * are positive 
evidence that Allen's Rheumatic Treatment has given complete cures in its 
most severe  and  stubborn  cases  of Rheumatism,  Neuritis,  Lumbago,   Gout
* * * Directions for Taking A dose consists of two tablets—one of each 
color. Simply drop one blue and one white tablet onto the tongue and 
swallow with a drink of water or other liquid. For very prompt relief it 
is advisable to crush the tablets and swallow them with a little water. Take 
four doses per day for the first two or three days, in order to get the treatment 
thoroughly into the system at once and stop all pains and aches immediately, 
then just take three doses per day as long as necessary to obtain permanent 
results. * * * Special Directions: Very old people, people who are in 
very poor health, those who naturally have a frail or delicate constitution, 
and anyone who finds the full dose a trifle too strong, should not lay the 
treatment aside, but simply take a smaller dose. * * * Rheumatic Treat- 
ment gives quick and wonderful relief from the awful pains and aches suf- 
fered by those who are afflicted with Rheumatism, Neuritis, Lumbago, Gout 
and * * * it does not contain * * * any drug prohibited by the Pure 
Food and Drug Act. * * * wonderful relief from pains and aches * * * 
The excellent results obtained as pain relievers in all Rheumatic and Neu- 
ralgic diseases    *    *    *   for pains and aches in the following common ills:
* * * Toothache, Earache, Locomotor Ataxia Pains, Migraine, Fever 
(Feverish Conditions), Ovarian Pains and Pains and Aches Peculiar To 
Women. Those who have been suffering greatly at night time from Rheu- 
matic or Neuritis pains, and have perhaps been unable to sleep at night for 
weeks at a time, will find that a dose of these tablets, taken at bedtime, will 
give wonderful relief, and they will be able to sleep soundly at night, free 
from all aches and pains. * * * Rheumatic Treatment * * * Rheu- 
matic."
On April 11, 1932, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgments 
of condemnation and forfeiture were entered, and it was ordered by the court 
that the product be destroyed by the United States marshal.
AETHTJB M. HYDE, Secretary of Agriculture.