19516.   Misbranding of Hepatona.     V. S. v. 30 Bottles of Hepatona.     Default 
decree of condemnation, forfeitare, and destruction.     (F. & D. No.
26459.    I. S. No. 5783.    S. No   4748.)
Examination of a drug product, known as Hepatona, from the shipment 
herein described having disclosed no ingredient or combination of ingredients 
capable of producing the curative and therapeutic effects claimed in the label- 
ing, the Secretary of Agriculture reported the matter to the United States 
attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
On June 10, 1931, the United States attorney filed in the District Court of 
the United States for the district aforesaid a libel praying seizure and condem- 
nation of 30 bottles of Hepatona at San Juan, P. R., alleging that the article 
liad been shipped on or about May 2, 1931, by Yglesias & Co. (Inc.), New 
York, N. Y., to San Juan, P. R., and that it was being sold and offered for sale 
in Puerto Rico by the Drug Co. of Puerto Rico (Inc.), and that it was mis- 
branded in violation of the food and drugs act as amended.
Analysis of a sample of the article by this department showed that it con- 
sisted essentially of sodium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bitar- 
trate, a lithium salt, citric acid, and phenolphthalein.
It was alleged in the libel that the article was misbranded in that the fol- 
lowing statements appearing in the labeling, regarding the curative and thera- 
peutic effects of the article, were false and fraudulent, since it contained no 
ingredients or combination of ingredients capable of producing the effects 
claimed: (Bottle label) "Hepatona =• * * Hepatic Stimulant, Coeagogue 
and Eliminator of Uric Acid;" (circula;-) " Hepatic Stimulant * * * it exer- 
cises a stimulative action over the hepatic cells and is efficacious even in smaller 
doses * * * regularizes the action of the intestines, * * * It is a 
smooth and efficacious hepatic stimulant. Prominent authorities consider it the 
best remedy for cirrhosis of the liver * * * is a powerful eliminating agent 
in toxic conditions. * * * thus obtaining its stimulative action over the 
liver without the necessity of administering large doses. * * * the pre- 
ferred eliminator for innumerable conditions where the clearing of the system 
from katabolic products and the removal of toxic materials from the blood is 
desired. * * * It is also of great help for the treatment of disorders of the 
kidneys; it eliminates the toxic substances from the alimentary canal, thus 
relieving them from the work of expelling those toxic products. This allows 
the kidneys to rest and to recover their normal functions. * * * In the 
treatment of the diseases of the skin of any origin, the necessity of keeping 
the Wood free from these toxic products has been acknowledged."
On July 8, 1931, 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.