C. F. Simmons Medicine Co. v. Mansfield Drug Co.

23 S.W. 165, 93 Tenn. 84
CourtTennessee Supreme Court
DecidedJune 30, 1893
StatusPublished
Cited by44 cases

This text of 23 S.W. 165 (C. F. Simmons Medicine Co. v. Mansfield Drug Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Tennessee Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
C. F. Simmons Medicine Co. v. Mansfield Drug Co., 23 S.W. 165, 93 Tenn. 84 (Tenn. 1893).

Opinion

M. M. Neil, Sp. J.

In 1840, or about that time, one M. A. Simmons, a young physician, and son of A. Q. Simmons, being at his father’s house, they conceived the idea, of preparing the medicine together for market. The two together made up the first lot of it for sale, M. A. Simmons, with his father’s assistance, writing the first prescription or direc[87]*87tions. This first lot was made in liquid form, and put in a five gallon keg, and carried through the country in a buggy, and retailed in quantities to suit the purchaser, by M. A. Simmons and his father. After making a few trips like this through the country, M. A. Simmons decided to return to his home in Dade County, Georgia, where he had previously begun the practice of medicine, and it was agreed between him and his father that they would make and sell the medicine separately, the father operating from his home and the son from his. The father continued to manufacture and sell this medicine from Walker County, Georgia, until the year 1856, when he moved to the State of Texas, and there died in the year 1862. About the year 1842, the son, Dr. M. A. Simmons, moved to the State of Mississippi, and there continued the manufacture and sale of the medicine. He advertised the medicine considerably both in newspapers ■ and almanacs, calling attention to his own and his father’s make. It does not appear that A. Q. Simmons ever advertised to any extent, if at all, separately from the advertisements prepared and put forth by Dr. M. A. Simmons. At this early date the medicine put forth by Dr. A. Q. Simmons (he having' acquired the title in the manufacture ®f the medicine), was labeled thus: “Liver Medicine by A. Q. Simmons,” all in print. That put forth by Dr. M- A. Simmons was labeled thus: “ Liver Medicine by M. A. Simmons,” the name being written in script.

[88]*88On the eleventh day of November, 1843, Dr. M. A. Simmons deposited in the Clerk’s office of the District Court of the United States for the District of West Tennessee, the title to a book, as follows: “Dr. Simmons’ Vegetable -Liver Medicine, prepared solely by A. Q. Simmons & Son, Walker County, Gav” and obtained a certificate in his own name of this fact. In the year 1850, he began to use a label, consisting of his picture and autograph, and the name, “Dr. Simmons’ Vegetable Liver Medicine,” and a statement of the ailments for which it would be found useful.

On the seventeenth day of October, 1856, Dr. A. Q. Simmons gave to his son, C. A. Simmons, a paper-writing, authorizing him to “make all my medicines, and to use my name in preparing, selling, and advertising all of my medicines,” etc., A. Q. Simmons having been the manufacturer of other medicines also, besides the “ Liver Medicine.” Immediately after this authority was given him, he began to manufacture under it, and manufactured and sold under it continuously, except for a short period during the Civil War, when he could not get the material, down to 1868. From 1856 down to 1865, he called his preparation “ Dr. C. A. Simmons’ Liver Medicine,” but in 1865, be gave it the name, “ Dr. Simmons’ Liver Regulator,” and sold it in that name until 1868.

On the thirtieth day of September, 1868, C. A. Simmons sold his certificate, together with a knowledge of the formula for the making of the liver [89]*89remedy, to defendants, J. H. Zeilin & Go. After their purchase, and during the year 1868, they added to the name of the preparation the words “ or medicine,” and on the tenth day of December, 1868, in the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of Georgia, “ deposited the title of an engraving,” consisting of a label containing the words, “ Dr. Simmons’ Liver Regulator or Medicine,” with a statement of the diseases for which the remedy was thought to be useful, and the words, “ A strictly vegetable, faultless family medicine, prepared only by J. H. Zeilin & Co., Macon, Ga.”

In 1868 or 1869, after Zeilin & Co.’s purchase,. Dr. M. A. Simmons changed his label so as to read, “Dr. M. A. Simmons’ Vegetable Liver Medicine,” the change consisting in the insertion of the initials “ M. A.” to distinguish his preparation of the remedy from that of Zeilin & Co.

On November 1, 1870, Zeilin & Co. registered in the patent-office at "Washington, a “wrapper or label or a trade-mark for said medicine,” being an exact copy of that previously filed in the' United States Distinct Court for the Southern District of Georgia. It should be noted, however (a fact not previously mentioned), that both of said wrappers also contained the following caution: “ Owing to the imitations and counterfeits of this valuable medicine, we are compelled, at a great expense, to change to this style of wrapper. None genuine without it, and the signature of A. Q. Simmons,” the name of J. II. Zeilin & Co. being written in [90]*90red ink across tlie face of this “caution,” and below it tlieir monogram in red ink. Each label also contained, at the top, a triangular shaped space inclosed in black lines, to be folded over the top of the package, and in this space the words, “Directions inside for preparation and use,” and a similar triangular space at the bottom, to be folded over the bottom of the package, and in which were printed the words: “Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by J. tl. Zeilin & Co., in the Clerk’s office of the District Court of the Dnited States for the District of Georgia.”

On March 10, 1874, Dr. M. A. Simmons registered his trade-mark in the patent-office at Washington, with the following specifications: “ My trademark consists of the words, ‘Dr. Simmons’ Vegetable Liver Medicine’ placed on a label above a portrait of myself, and a fac-simile of the signature, 1 M. A. Simmons, M D.,’ on the lower part of the label at the right hand, as represented in the accompanying drawing,” said drawing being a dujDli-cate of the label upon his tin can packages in use in 1850. He continued however, in actual use the variation of this form introduced by the insertion of the initials “ M. A.,7 the actual name appearing on all the packages being “ Dr. M. A. Simmons’ Vegetable Liver Medicine.” And it has also been most generally advertised by this name, both by him and his successors in title, but very often by the name “ Dr. M. A. Simmons’ Liver Medicine.”

[91]*91On the seventeenth day of 1881, J. H. 'Zeilin & Go. registered in the patent-office at Washington, an addition to the “trade-mark,” consisting •of a device representing a mortar and pestle ■crossed by a scroll or ribbon, in the form of the letter “ Z,” one end of which embraces a spat•ula and the other end a graduate. On the several limbs of this symbol are arranged the words •“ A. Q.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
23 S.W. 165, 93 Tenn. 84, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/c-f-simmons-medicine-co-v-mansfield-drug-co-tenn-1893.