19486. Misbranding of Dr. Penor's antiseptic uterine tablets. U. S. v. 26 
Packages of Dr. Penor's Antiseptic Uterine Tablets. Default de- 
cree   of  condemnation,  forfeiture,  and   destruction.      (F.  &  D.  No.
27772.    I. S. No. 50998.    S. No. 5848.)
Examination of the labeling and composition of the drug product, Dr. Penor's 
antiseptic uterine tablets, involved in this action disclosed no ingredient or 
combination of ingredients capable of producing the curative and therapeutic 
effects claimed for it on the labeling.
On February 25, 1932, the United States attorney for the Northern District 
of Indiana, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
District Court of the United States for the district aforesaid a libel praying 
seizure and condemnation of 26 packages of Dr. Penor's antiseptic uterine tab- 
lets, remaining in the original unbroken packages at Fort Wayne, Ind., alleging 
that the article had been shipped by the Dr. G. D. Stoner Co., Lakeland, Fla., 
on or about October 19, 1931, (a portion was shipped on or about November 27, 
1931), and had been transported from the State of Florida into the State of 
Indiana, and charging misbranding in violation of the food and drugs act as 
amended.
Analysis of a sample of Penor's antiseptic uterine tablets by this department 
showed that the article consisted of sodium chloride (99.97 per cent).
It was alleged in the libel that the article was misbranded in that the 
following statements regarding the curative or therapeutic effects of the said 
article, appearing on the carton and in a circular shipped with the article, 
were false and fraudulent, since it contained no ingredient or combination of 
ingredients capable of producing the effects claimed: (Carton) " Uterine 
Tablets * * * Dr. Penor's Home Treatment for Female Diseases, such 
as Leucorrhoea or Whites, Inflammation, Ulceration, Congestion and Falling 
of the Womb, Cancer in earlier stages and all Unnatural Discharges from the 
Womb and Vagina;" (circular) "Dr. Penor's Uterine Tablets * * * A 
simple inexpensive home treatment for Female Diseases to be used by yourself 
in the privacy of your home. The Modesty of Women Naturally makes them 
shrink from the indelicate questions, to exposure and embarrassing examina- 
tion which some physicians consider essential in the treatment of the disease 
of women. Yet, if help can be had, it is better to submit to this ordeal than 
let the disease grow and spread. The trouble is that so often the women 
undergo all the annoyance and shame for nothing. Thousands of women who 
have been cured by our remedy, write in appreciation of the cure, * * * 
This medicine is guaranteed to perform its work when used strictly according 
to direction. * * * a positive tonic * * * a remedy some of the most 
prevalent forms of diseases affecting the pelvic organs of the female. * * * 
This is a subject that is worthy of the attention of the highest order of minds, 
for the perpetuation of the home, the hope of society, and the foundation of 
civilization itself depends on the health and vigor of the sex. The original 
mental and physical harmony of women has not been maintained. While she 
has developed intellectually, expanded socially and advanced morally, she has 
degenerated physically. The universal presence among the sex of numerous 
complaints that are commonly known by the general term of ' Female weak- 
ness ' is a problem that we are sure elicits the attention of all thinking women 
today. Many a woman starts out in life in perfect health, full of hope and with 
bright prospects. After a while the freshness of health disappears, the com- 
plexion becomes sallow, the eye dimmed, sunken, and encircled with dark rings. 
Severe headaches follow. There is a sense of weight, fullness and bearing 
down in the lower part of the abdomen. Pains in the back and across the 
abdomen. Sometimes there is a great soreness in the region of the ovaries, 
so that even the pressure of clothing causes pain. Bladder difficulties, con- 
stipation, piles and leucorrhoea attend the other difficulties. These symptoms 
are accompanied by nervous depression, the patient is fearful of some still 
greater trouble, is despondent and in some cases, inclined to hysteria. There 
is a constant tired feeling and a disinclination to exercise. These are some 
of the symptoms of Female Weakness, and although they vary in most every 
case, sometimes all and sometimes only a part being present, yet they indicate
one condition—some Uterine Trouble. In Submitting This Plain Talk to the 
ladies, we do so with the confidence that if you will read it all carefully with- 
out prejudice and take a common sense view of it, you will be convinced that 
the theories advanced are reasonable and that the manner of the Uterine 
Tablet treatment is the proper and correct one. With it any lady can treat 
herself in the privacy of her own home, without the exposure or embarrassment 
attending treatment by a physician at less than one-tenth the expense, and a 
trial will easily convince you of its merits. * * * Womb and Its Diseases. 
Of all the human body there is none more important to be kept in a healthy 
condition than the Womb. With a diseased Womb you soon lose all interest 
in life, become despondent and low spirited; have a tired, languid feeling and 
wonder why; crying spells with no apparent cause, and then follow Headache, 
Backache, Bearing Down Pains, Leucorrhoea (or Whites), Soreness of the 
Ovaries, Frequent and Scalding Urination, Rectal Irritation, Constipation, 
producing piles; then follows Congestion and Enlargement of the Womb, 
Inflammation of the Womb, Ulceration of the Womb, Cancerous Affection of 
the Womb, Falling of the Womb forward, backward, and downward, produced 
hy undue amount of serum or watery substance in this organ, and this watery 
substance is a dropsical effusion, causing it to become so engorged and heavy 
that the ligaments supporting it are no longer able to hold it in place. Now 
the Womb, in its present inflamed condition, can not throw off this serum, or 
watery substance, but retains it, adding to its size and weight. The Uterine 
Tablets Remove this by a thorough process of absorption, that is, by drawing 
this watery substance away. Every application will reduce the size of the 
Womb and in time allow it to regain its normal position and condition. The 
Uterine Tablets will cause no discomfort when applied unless there is acute 
Ulceration. If you experience any smarting you will know at once what your 
trouble is, and we would advise the continuance of the treatment, as our treat- 
ment is positively the mildest and greatest healing agent in the world, and 
will overcome the acuteness of the disease in a few days. Acute Ulcers are 
nothing more or less than inflamed sores, and everyone knows that it is im- 
possible to apply a.healing agent to any raw sore without producing a certain 
degree of discomfort. This smarting is always direct proof that there is 
Ulceration, hence the more need of the remedy, and the third or fourth treat- 
ment will heal them up nicely. In cases of long standing, do not expect one box 
to cure you, but from four to six boxes have effected cures in the worst cases. 
At Change of Life. It is a boon to womankind, relieving the organs .of all 
morbid conditions that have been in existence for years. It will prevent so 
many of the ills that appear at this time, and so strengthen and cleanse the 
whole organism that long years of perfect health will follow the cessation of the 
Menses. The Uterine Tablets should be used by every woman during this 
critical period. Leucorrhoea (Whites or Catarrh of "Vagina or Womb). This 
affection is generally very proserating in its effects, and no woman affected with 
this disease can retain her health and good looks for any length of time. This 
constant drain, if not checked, leads to general uterine derangements; Irritabil- 
ity of Mind, Nervousness, Hysteria, Difficult Respiration, Sterility, Consumption. 
The Uterine Tablets are unexcelled for this disease and we have many testi- 
monials from ladies who say that a single box has permanently cured them after 
having suffered for years with this distressing disease. Derangments of the 
Monthly Flow. Suppressed, Painful, Irregular, Profuse or Excessive Menstrua- 
tion. These are among the most distressing grievances of which woman have 
to complain. A woman who suffers from them spends one-fourth of her time in 
misery and another fourth recovering from the result of her suffering. The 
Uterine Tablets will cure these. It will restore to that normal state in which 
Menstruation is free from pain. It will regulate Irregular, Profuse and Sup- 
pressed Menstruation, and will correct this abnormal condition and the troubles 
will surely disappear. In Cases of Pregnancy. It may be used with benefit up 
to' the seventh month, thereby relieving the Womb of Its inflamed and congested 
condition, consequently relieving the patient of more than one-half of the suffer- 
ing at childbirth. After Childbirth. The use of the Tablets can be commenced 
against the fourth or sixth week after confinement, and it is a valuable remedy 
for any trouble resulting from carelessness or imprudence during confinement. 
Laceration or any injury to the mother during childbirth. Nervousness. Pro- 
duced by a diseased condition of the Womb is generally indicated by the follow- 
ing symptoms, which are more or less prominent in every case: Nervous and
Sick headache, Backache, Irritations of the Stomach, Spinal Irritation, pain 
between the shoulders, distressing sensation in the back of the head and numb- 
ness and coldness of the extremities. Constipation and Piles. The Womb 
being enlarged, down and out of place, crowds against the rectum (or back 
passage) causing Constipation and producing Piles. In hundreds of cases this 
is the sole cause of Constipation and piles, and if allowed to go on, much suffer- 
ing will ensue. Inflammation of the Bladder. Again, when the womb is down 
and out of place, it presses against the bladder, causing frequent urination with 
a burning and scalding sensation; in fact, a diseased Womb is the origin of 
nearly all the suffering of women. Every application of The Uterine Tablets 
reduces inflammation and also' the size and weight of the Womb, and as the 
conditions improve it will resume its natural position, all disagreeable symptoms 
will disappear and good health will follow. Directions—Every night on retiring, 
place one of the tablets well up in the vagina as far as the index finger will 
reach, placing it as near the mouth of the womb as possible, where it will slowly 
dissolve. A warm water injection may be used the next morning in which two 
of the Tablets have been dissolved in one quart of water. This is not necessary 
unless there is a profuse discharge from the vagina. As an antiseptic preventa- 
tive for disease, place one or two of the Tablets well up in the vagina. This will 
insure complete destruction of any germ present on the surface of the tissues, 
thus rendering the parts aseptic and safe."
On May 13, 1932, no claimant having appeared for the property, judgment of 
condemnation and forfeiture was entered, and it was ordered by the court that 
the product be destroyed by the United States marshal.
ARTHUR M. HYDE, Secretary of Agriculture.