13625. Misbranding   of   Vita   Rica   tonic   pills   and   laxative.     V.   S.   v.   9
Bottles, et al., of Vita Rica Tonic Pills and Laxative.    Default de- 
cree of condemnation, forfeiture, and destruction.     (F.  & D.  Nos.
19061, 19062, 19063.    I. S. Nos. 3554-v, 3555-v, 3556-v.    S. No. E-4978.)
On October 14, 1924, the United States attorney for the District of Porto 
Rico, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the District 
Court of the United States for said district a libel praying the seizure and con-
BTJKEAU  OF  CHEMISTBY    ' .    .{Supplement203
demnation of 87 bottles of Vita Rica tonic pills an4 laxative, at San. Juan, 
P. R., alleging that the article had been shipped by the Vita Rica Eharmacal 
Co., New York, N. Y., on or about September 5, 1924, and that it was being 
offered for sale and sold in the Territory of Porto Rico, and charging mis- 
branding in violation of the food and drugs act as amended. 
.. ;i,     ,
Analysis of a sample of the article by the Bureau of Chemistry of this depart- 
ment showed that the pills contained compounds of iron, potassium, manganese, 
mercury, arsenic, zinc, phosphorus, and strychnine. 
.     :.
Misbranding of the article was alleged in the libel for the reason that the 
following statements, appearing in the labeling, regarding the curative and 
therapeutic effects of the said article, were false and fraudulent, since it con- 
tained no ingredient or combination of ingredients capable of producing the 
effects claimed: (Bottle label, English) "Vita-Rica * * * Reconstructive 
* * * Laxative *. * * Recommended For * * * General Debility, 
Nervous Dyspepsia, Impotence, Senile Debility, Etc.," (Spanish and French) 
'? Vita-Rica * * * Reconstructive and Laxative A Builder," (carton, 
English) "Vita Rica * * * Laxative * * * Blood Purifier, Builder 
Recommended in * * * Nervous Debility, Neurasthenia, Leucorrhea And 
Impotence," (similar statements in Spanish) (circular, English) "Vita-Rica 
Means New Life * * * Laxative A blood purifier, builder .,.*- * * Rec- 
ommended For General Debility, Nervous Dyspepsia, Impotence, Leucorrhea, 
Neurasthenia, Senile debility, Etc. * * .* laxative and antiseptic action on 
the intestines * * * stimulate the nutritive function of the body.as well 
as of the blood-making organs thus rapidly increasing the *.. * * , quantity 
of the blood and nutrition of glands, nervous muscles, brain, etc. * * * 
being also the eliminant, it decreases the tendency to auto-toxemia," (similar 
statements in Spanish). 
On November 28, 1924, no claimant having appeared for the property, judg- 
ment of condemnation and forfeiture was entered, an4 it was ordered by the 
court that the product be destroyed by the United States marshal.
R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.