27879. Adulteration of phenolphthalein tablets and tincture of belladonna leaves.
U. S. v. Meyer Bros. Drag Co.     Plea of guilty.     Fine, $400.     (F. & D.
No. 39486.    Sample Nos. 4685-C, 4695-C, 30226-C.)
This case involved (1) tablets which contained less phenolphthalein than 
declared; and (2) tincture of belladonna leaves which yielded alkaloids of 
belladonna leaf in excess of the amount provided by the United States 
Pharmacopoeia.
On May 17, 1937, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of 
Missouri, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
district court an information against Meyer Bros. Drug Co., a corporation, 
St. Louis, Mo., alleging shipment by said company on or about August 19, 1936, 
from the State of Missouri into the State of Kansas of quantities of drugs that 
were adulterated. The articles were labeled: "Tablets Phenolphthalein U. S. P. 
1 Grain"; and "Tincture Belladonna Leaves U. S. P. X." Both were labeled 
further: "Meyer Brothers Drug Co. Saint Louis, New OrlKans."
The phenolphthalein tablets were alleged to be adulterated in that their 
strength and purity fell below the professed standard and quality under which 
they were sold in that each tablet was represented to contain 1 grain of 
phenolphthalein; whereas each of a portion of said tablets contained less than 
1 grain, namely, not more than 0.97 grain, and the remainder, not more than 0.7 
grain of phenolphthalein. The tincture of belladonna leaves was alleged to be 
adulterated in that it was sold under a name recognized in the United States 
Pharmacopoeia and differed from the standard of strength, quality, and purity 
as determined by the test laid down therein since it yielded more than 0.033 
gram, namely, not less than 0.04 gram, of the alkaloids of belladonna leaf per 
100 cubic centimeters; whereas the pharmacopoeia provided that tincture of 
belladonna should yield from each 100 cubic centimeters not more than 0.033 
gram of the alkaloids of belladonna leaf; and the standard of strength, quality, 
and purity of the article was not declared on the container.
On September J7, 1937, a plea of guilty was entered on behalf of the defendant 
and the court imposed a fine of $400.
HAERT L. BROWN, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.