Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
July,  1909.  J 
Importation  of  Drugs. 
339 
Another  serious  feature  met  with  in  imported  goods  is  the  false 
claims  and  misrepresentations  made  upon  labels,  cartons,  and  accom- 
panying literature  of  certain  articles.  A  product,  commonly  known 
as  pills  of  ferrous  carbonate,  which  is  beyond  doubt  an  efficient 
remedy  for  various  conditions  and  which  has  a  worthy  place  as  a 
remedial  agent,  is  claimed  by  the  manufacturers  to  be  a  positive 
cure  for  a  number  of  diseases,  among  which  are  enumerated 
scrofula,  consumption,  locomotor  ataxia,  and  epilepsy.  In  other 
cases  the  claims  are  confined  to  a  given  system  as  circulatory,  diges- 
tive, respiratory,  etc.  Still  others  restrict  themselves  to  special 
organs ;  for  example,  a  certain  product  has  been  met  with  which  is 
recommended  for  all  diseased  conditions  of  the  kidneys  and  all 
troubles  arising  from  such  abnormalities.  Upon  examination  this 
particular  article  was  found  to  be  composed  of  methylene  blue  and 
oil  of  juniper.  Other  preparations  are  exploited  as  never-failing 
cures,  or  specifics  for  certain  diseases,  the  pathogenic  conditions 
of  which  are  such  as  to  preclude  the  successful  treatment  by  medici- 
nal remedies  alone.  The  most  that  can  possibly  be  accomplished  by 
such  remedies  is  palliative  in  character.  The  products  include  the 
so-called  positive  cures  for  such  diseases  as  diabetes,  syphilis,  cancer, 
asthma,  epilepsy,  locomotor  ataxia,  and  the  various  forms  and  stages 
of  tuberculosis. 
A  product,  for  example,  claiming  to  be  a  sure  and  positive  cure 
for  all  forms  of  epilepsy  was  found  upon  examination  to  contain 
alcohol,  morphine,  neither  of  which  was  declared,  ammonium  iodide, 
and  perhaps  a  small  quantity  of  bromide.  Another  preparation 
represented  to  be  a  cure  for  all  forms  of  tuberculosis  con- 
sisted approximately  of  95  per  cent,  sucrose.  A  product  for  the 
cure  of  syphilis  claimed  that  the  use  of  this  preparation  would  cure 
the  disease  in  a  "  very  brief  time."  Among  other  constituents  stated 
to  be  present  in  remedial  quantities  were  strychnine,  cocaine,  and 
mercury.  An  examination  showed  cocaine  and  strychnine  were 
absent  and  but  a  mere  trace  of  mercury  present,  certainly  not  in 
sufficient  quantity  to  produce  results  in  the  period  of  time  referred 
to.  It  is  represented  as  sui  passing  any  and  all  other  preparations 
for  this  disease.  The  most  alluring  descriptions  of  results  achieved 
in  this  treatment  are  set  forth  in  the  accompanying  literature. 
It  may  be  said  in  passing  that  every  possible  care  is  being  exer- 
cised to  prevent  goods  bearing  labels  which  are  false  and  misleading 
from  coming  into  the  United  States. 
