Boll v. United States

34 Cust. Ct. 218
United States Customs Court·Decided June 9, 1955·No. C. D. 1707·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

Lawrence, Judge:

The imported articles in controversy are described in tbe record as “Incandescent electric light bulbs with metal filaments, No. 4” and are used in connection with Guedel laryngoscopes. They were classified by the collector of customs as parts of surgical instruments, and duty was imposed thereon at the rate of 45 per centum ad valorem in accordance with the terms of paragraph 359 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U. S. O. § 1001, par. 359), as modified by the Annecy Protocol to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (84 Treas. Dec. 403, T. D. 52373, and 85 Treas. Dec. 116, T. D. 52462).

Plaintiffs claim that the merchandise above referred to should have been classified as incandescent electric-light bulbs or lamps, with metal filaments, and subjected to duty at the rate of 20 per centum ad valorem pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 229 of said act (19 U. S. C. § 1001, par. 229).

The pertinent text of the competing provisions is here set forth—

[220]*220Paragraph 359 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as modified, supra:

Surgical instruments, and parts thereof, including hypodermic syringes and forceps, composed wholly or in part of iron, steel, copper, brass, nickel, aluminum, or other metal, finished or unfinished (except hypodermic and other surgical needles, and except instruments and parts in chief value of glass)-45% ad val.

Paragraph 229 of said tariff act:

Par. 229. Incandescent electric-light bulbs and lamps, without filaments, 20 per centum ad valorem; with metal filaments, 20 per centum ad valorem; with filaments of carbon or other non-metallie material, 30 per centum ad valorem.

The following questions are presented for our determination:

(1) Are laryngoscopes in which the imported bulbs are used surgical instruments?

(2) If the first question is answered in the affirmative, are said electric-light bulbs parts of the instruments with which they are used?

At the trial, plaintiffs introduced the testimony of one witness, Reinhard Meister, who described himself as a half-owner and president of Metro Medical Distributors, Inc. (the real party in interest herein), which was established in 1948, and is engaged in buying, importing, and distributing catheters and other hospital and doctors’ supplies. He testified that in 1936 he became a registered nurse and that he was supervisor of 63 orderlies and nurses at New York Hospital, his experience with surgical cases totaling 5 years in all.

Meister produced a sample of the No. 4 lamp in controversy which was received in evidence as exhibit 1. He stated that it has a metal filament and that except for the base of the exhibit it was the same type as is used in flashlights; that he has been familiar with articles like exhibit 1 since 1929 in hospitals and has seen them manufactured. He identified exhibit 1 stating that it is used in a laryngoscope and that illustrative exhibit 2 contains a picture depicting the use of exhibit 1 in a laryngoscope; that the instrument marked “Guedel large” on exhibit 2 uses the No. 4 bulb; that the other items shown on exhibit 2 employ a similar bulb to the No. 4 but of a different size, such as the “M” lamp, a sample of which was received in evidence as illustrative exhibit 3; and that the item marked “Child” on exhibit 2 uses a “1-A” bulb. A sample of this type was received in evidence as illustrative exhibit 4.

Meister explained that exhibit 1 is attached to a laryngoscope, which latter is used to introduce through the mouth and vocal cords a rubber tubing by means of which gases are supplied to the bronchia in the administration of anesthetics; that the bulbs give light to the physician or registered nurse to permit him to maneuver through the vocal cords without injuring them; that they are not used for exploratory purposes and seldom used by surgeons; that they are used by [221]*221an anesthetist or registered nurse and that there are other methods for throwing light in the same locality of the body, two methods being by means of a head mirror or flashlight; that a surgeon could use exhibit 1 for examination but not for an operation.

On cross-examination, Meister testified that a surgeon is a physician who specializes in operations and that the laryngoscope is used by the anesthetist in preparation for operational procedure; that any instrument used by a surgeon is a surgical instrument; that a surgeon never uses a laryngoscope because he needs to keep his hands free; that an anesthetic is administered by a nurse or anesthetist but under the supervision of a doctor; that exhibit 1 can be used in dental or surgical instruments; and that a laryngoscope without a bulb is of no use except as a tongue depressor.

The defendant produced two witnesses, the first of whom was Dr. Sylvester Daly, a graduate of Columbia College in 1924 and of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1928, who had served an internship in Fifth Avenue Hospital, New York City, for 15 months, and following that was a resident physician treating diseases of the ear, nose, and throat at the Medical Center for 2 years. He later became a staff physician at the Presbyterian Hospital and “eventually became a diplómate of the American Board — that is, a specialist.” In 1933, he published a paper on nonmalignant growths of the larynx in collaboration with another physician, Dr. Brighton, and, in 1938, published a paper on secretions of the nose having to do with the protective enzymes of the nasal mucus. He stated further that “We also published an experimental paper dealing with tuberculosis in 1939.” In 1940, Dr. Daly began 5% years’ service as a United States naval officer performing the general duties of a medical officer dealing with his own specialty, namely, otolaryngology. He resumed practice as a duly licensed physician in the State of New York in 1946, treating diseases of the ear, nose, and throat.

With regard to the uses of laryngoscopes, Dr. Daly, who qualified"• as a surgeon in the field of ear, nose, and throat diseases, testified that he had used laryngoscopes on many occasions; that it was a multiple-purpose instrument designed for use with a light because otherwise it would be impossible to see objects to be treated — for instance, in removing tumors from the larynx — and that these bulbs are useful in both exploratory and surgical operations. He stated that exhibit 1 is a bulb for a laryngoscope used largely in anesthesia and that it could also be used in an otoscope or a proctoscope. All of these instruments he regarded as surgical instruments.

In explaining how a laryngoscope is used, Dr. Daly gave the following testimony:

A. Usually it is a hospital procedure. Usually, a patient is recumbent on a table. His head is held by an assistant, and the instrument is introduced at the [222]*222back of the tongue, inserted into the tongue and the tongue is lifted up and the instrument is so designed that it fits in the back of the tongue and the bulb, when illuminated, permits a view of the larynx.
Q. Does a doctor actually hold a laryngoscope in his hand at the time he performs these various surgical feats that you mentioned before? — A. Yes, he does.

Dr.

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Boll v. United States, 34 Cust. Ct. 218 (cusc 1955).

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