24669. Adulteration of tincture of digitalis and tincture of belladonna leaves \
Misbranding of elixir pepsin, bismuth and strychnia, and wine ergot; 
and adulteration and misbranding of tincture of strophanthus, fluid- 
extract of hyoscyamus, fluidextract of colchicum seed, tincture of 
hyoscyamus, elixir of digitalin compound, and tincture of colchicum 
seed. U. S. v. Four 16-Ounce Bottles of Tincture Strophanthus, et al. 
Default decrees of condemnation and destruction. (F. & D. nos. 35193 
to 35202, Incl. Sample nos. 22443-B, 22445-B, 22450-B, 22452-B, 22453-B, 
22492-B, 22493-B, 22494-B, 22495-B, 22498-B.)
These cases involved shipments of various drugs adulterated and/or mis- 
branded in the following respects: The elixir of pepsin, bismuth, and strychnia 
contained less pepsin than declared; the elixir digitalin compound contained 
less strychnine sulphate and less nitroglycerin than declared; the wine ergot 
contained alcohol in excess of the amount declared; and the remaining products
were sold under names recognized, or synonymous with names recognized, 
in the United States Pharmacopoeia, and differed from the standard laid 
down in that authority. The labeling of the tincture of strophanthus bore 
unwarranted curative and therapeutic claims.
On March 6, 1935, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of 
Louisiana, acting upon a report by the Secretary of Agriculture, filed in the 
district court libels praying seizure and condemnation of 37 bottles of tincture 
of strophanthus, 6 bottles of tincture of digitalis, 13 bottles of fluidextract of 
hyoscyamus, 1 bottle of fluidextract of colchicum seed, 10 bottles of tincture of 
belladonna leaves, 10 bottles of tincture of hyoscyamus, 1 bottle of elixir pepsin, 
bismuth, and strychnia, 4 bottles of elixir digitalin compound, 7 bottles of 
tincture of colchicum seed, and 24 bottles of wine ergot at New Orleans, La., 
alleging that the articles had been shipped in interstate commerce in various 
shipments on or about March 27, March 28, and March 30, 1934, by the South- 
western Drug Corporation, from Houston, Tex., and charging adulteration and 
misbranding in violation of the Food and Drugs Act as amended. The articles 
were labeled in part: "From The Laboratory of Houston Drug Company, 
Houston Texas."
The libels charged Adulteration of certain of the products in that they were 
sold under names recognized in the United States Pharmacopoeia, or under 
names synonymous with names recognized in the pharmacopoeia, and differed 
from the standard of strength as determined by the tests laid down in that 
authority in the following respects, and their own standard of strength was 
not stated on the labels: The tincture of strophanthus had a potency of four- 
tenths of that required by the pharmacopoeia; the tincture of digitalis had 
a potency of less than three tenths of that required by the pharmacopoeia; 
the fluidextract of hyoscyamus yielded 0.179 gram of alkaloids, whereas the 
pharmacopoeia specifies that it yield not more than 0.075 gram of alkaloids of 
hyoscyamus; the fluidextract of colchicum seed yielded 0.70 gram of colchicum 
per 100 cubic centimeters; whereas the pharmacopoeia specifies that fluidextract 
of colchieum yield not more than 0.44 gram of colchicum per 100 cubic centi- 
meters; the tincture of belladonna leaves yielded 0.57 gram of alkaloids per 
100 cubic centimeters, whereas the pharmacopoeia requires that tincture of bella- 
donna shall yield not more than 0.033 gram of the alkaloids of belladonna per 
100 cubic centimeters; the tincture of hyoscyamus yielded 0.0109 gram of 
alkaloids per 100 cubic centimeters, whereas the pharmacopoeia provides that it 
yield not more than 0.0075 gram of alkaloids per 100 cubic centimeters; the 
tincture of colchicum seed yielded 0.077 gram of colchicine per 100 cubic 
centimeters, whereas the pharmacopoeia specifies that tincture of colchieum 
should yield not more than 0.044 gram of colchicine per 100 cubic centimeters.
Adulteration of the elixir digitalin compound was alleged for the reason that 
its strength fell below the professed standard under which it was sold, namely, 
"Each fluid drachm contains * * * Strychnine Sulphate 1-50 gr.; Nitro- 
glycerin 1-100 gr.", since it contained not more than 1/69 grain of strychnine 
sulphate and 1/190 grain of nitroglycerin per fluid dram.
The libels alleged that certain of the products were misbranded because of 
the following false and misleading statements on the labels: (Tincture of 
strophanthus) "Tinct, strophanthus, U. S. P.", (fluidextract of hyoscyamus), 
"Standard-0.055 to 0.075% alkaloids"; (fluidextract of colchicum seed) "Fluid 
Extract Colchieum Seed, U. S. P. * * * Standard of Strength—0.36-0.44% 
of Colchicine"; (tincture of hyoscyamus) "Tinct, Hyoscyamus, U. S. P."; 
(elixir pepsin, bismuth, and strychnia) "Each fluid drachm containing one 
grain Pure Pepsin"; (elixir digitalin compound) "Each fluid drachm contains: 
* * * Strychnine Sulphate 1-50 gr.; Nitroglycerin 1-100 gr."; (tincture of 
colchicum seed) "Tinct. Colchicum Seed, U. S. P.", (wine ergot) "alcohol 13%."
Misbranding of the wine ergot was alleged for the further reason that the 
package failed to bear on the labeling a statement of the quantity or propor- 
tion of alcohol contained in the article, since the product contained more alcohol 
than declared, namely, 27.23 percent. Misbranding of the tincture of 
strophanthus was alleged for the further reason that the following statements 
in the labeling regarding its curative and therapeutic effects, "A powerful 
cardiac stimulant, acts more powerfully on the heart than digitalis. * * * 
Dose of the Tincture—1 to 10 minims (0.065 to 0.55 Cc.) administered 
caustiously (sic)" were false and fraudulent.
On April 2, 1935, no claimant having appeared, judgments of condemnation 
were entered and it was ordered that the products be destroyed.
W. R. GBEGQ, Acting Secretary of Agriculture.