Joseph McKenna

“ If it fulfils the purpose of the law, it cannot be said to be an addition to the law, unless, indeed, it can be contended that the law provided a means for its defeat by the easy device of mysterious names. ”

“ The purpose of the law is the ever-insistent consideration in its interpretation. The purpose is to prevent the surreptitious sale of certain noxious drugs or their derivatives, the latter supposedly partaking of the quality of parent article and as effective of evil consequences. ”

“ The composition of drugs is a matter of technical skill, their denomination often by words of scholastic origin, conveying no meaning to the uninformed, their uses and abuses learned only by experience, beneficial or evil. ”

“ The libel alleges that the drugs are in the possession and custody of the Wholesale Drug Exchange, a body corporate, at a numbered place in the city of Washington.
The drugs, it is alleged, are intended to be used for the cure and mitigation and prevention of diseases of man. They are described as follows: 'Twenty packages, more or less, of said drug, labeled and branded as follows, 'Antikamnia Tablets, contain 305 grains of acetphenetidin, U.S. P. per ounce guaranteed by the Antikamnia Chemical Company, under the food and drugs act, June 30, 1906, U.S. Serial Number 10. ”

“ Antikamnia Chemical Company
Argued: December 9, 1913. --- Decided: January 5, 1914
Libel for the seizure and condemnation of certain drugs under the provisions of the act of Congress of June 30, 1906, commonly known as the food and drugs act (34 Stat. at L. 768, chap. 3915, U.S.C.omp. Stat. Supp. 1911, p. 1354) . ”