18504. Misbranding of Cystogen aperient and Cystogen litnia.    IT. S. v. 21 - 
Packages   of   Cystogen   Aperient,   et   al.     Default   decrees   of   con- ' 
demnatlon, forfeiture, and destruction.     (F. & D. Nos. 26068, 26069, 
26070.   I. S. Nos. 15898, 20154, 20155.    S. Nos. 4275, 4276.)
Examination of drug products, known as Cystogen aperient and Cystogen 
lithia, from the shipments herein described having shown that the articles were 
accompanied by circulars which bore statements representing that they pos- 
sessed curative and therapeutic properties which they did not possess, the Sec- 
retary of Agriculture reported the matter to the United States attorney for the 
middle district of Pennsylvania.
On March 23 and March 24, 1931, the United States attorney filed in the 
district court of the United States for the district aforesaid libels praying 
seizure and condemnation of 49 packages of Cystogen aperient and 33 packages 
of Cystogen lithia, remaining in the original unbroken packages at Scranton, 
Pa., alleging that the articles had been shipped by the Cystogen Chemical Co., 
from Brooklyn, N. Y., in part on or about May 14, 1930, and in part on or 
about July 11, 1930, and had been transported from the State of New York 
into the State of Pennsylvania, and charging misbranding in violation of the 
food and drugs act as amended.
Analyses of samples of the articles by this department showed that the 
Cystogen aperient consisted essentially of sodium phosphate (51.4 per cent), 
and methenamine (7.8 per cent) in an effervescent base composed of sodium 
bicarbonate, citric acid, and tartaric acid, and/or potassium bitartrate; and 
that the Cystogen lithia consisted of tablets each containing methenamine (3 
grains), lithium tartrate (2.9 grains), and an effervescent base of sodium 
bicarbonate, citric acid, and tartaric acid.
It was alleged in the libels that the articles were misbranded in that.the 
following statements appearing in the circulars, regarding the curative and 
therapeutic effects of the said articles, were false and fraudulent, since they con- 
tained no ingredients or combinations of ingredients capable of producing the ef- 
fects claimed: (Cystogen aperient) " Cystogen is a general internal antiseptic to 
be used in the treatment of all infections of the urinary tract, including pyelitis, 
cystitis, urinary infection from ureternal calculi, retention of urine from prostate 
or tabes dorsalis and urethritis. * * * Cystogen disinfects the intestinal 
and genito-urinary tracts. * * * It is a routine procedure before most opera- 
tions, in abscesses, forunculosis, ulcers, in otitis media, tonsilitis and quinsy. 
In alcoholism and drug addiction it clears the body of deleterious matter and 
overcomes the irritation of the nervous system. Cystogen Aperient is valuable 
in pneumonia when resolution takes place and in gonorrheal arthrtis; " (Cysto- 
gen lithia) " This combination is a true solvent and eliminant that promotes 
the solution and excretion of uric acid. Its use is indicated in all conditions 
of uric acid retention and in the treatment of nearly every infectious disease. 
* * * Cystogen-Lithia is used in gout, rheumat'sm, diabetes and lithaemic 
diathesis for this treatment expels the toxins and reduces antiseptic conditions 
throughout the body."
On June 9, 1931, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgments of 
condemnation and forfeiture were entered, and it was ordered by the court that 
the product be destroyed by the United States marshal.
ARTHUR M. HYDE, Secretary of Agriculture.