6 The Philippine Journal of Science 1922 
METHODS OF TREATMENT BASED ON CHAULMOOGRA AND OTHER OILS 
Until recently chaulmoogra oil was used principally in the 
crude form and was administered chiefly by mouth. The dis- 
advantages of this method were that the nauseating properties 
of the oil seriously limited its use, and the action, even of large 
amounts, was slow. To obviate these difficulties, a number of 
other methods of administration were tried, in which the first 
real success was obtained by Mercado who used the formula 
(p. 54): 
“Camiphorated oi] 10 per? comb... seccscc- ccc 
Chaulmoogra oil, pure and sterile... baa 60 cc 
Resoreite sis Slee i I ee ee 4 grams 
ne i gi ee ee ee 2.50 c.c 
The camphorated oil is added because it “on account of its 
oils, helps the oil of chaulmoogra and besides that, it acts inde- 
pendently upon the heart and is at the same time, a recognized 
therapeutical agent which constantly increases phagocytic ac- 
tivity.” Heiser states 1° that camphor and ether were suggested 
by the Merck Co., to assist in the absorption of the chaulmoogra 
oil. The resorcine was used for its antiseptic properties. 
The intramuscular method is generally conceded as an ad- 
vance on the oral administration of chaulmoogra oil, both be- 
cause it avoids the nauseating effect and because it produces 
more-rapid results. The Mercado mixture has been found less 
irritating and is more easily absorbed than the pure oil injected 
in the same manner, although the pure oil, carefully prepared, 
is still injected intramuscularly in the asylums of Japan, where 
it is preferred on account of its more-concentrated form. 
While the pure oil can be used intramuscularly, the crude com- 
mercial oil ordinarily sold is unsuited for such use, even though 
applied in the form of the Mercado mixture. A widespread 
idea that the crude oil is more efficacious has seriously inter- 
fered with the intramuscular treatment of leprosy. Heiser 
states :17 
Experience with chaulmoogra oil at San Lazaro Hospital, when admin- 
istered by mouth, has shown that the crude oil is much more efficacious 
‘ than the refined product. When used hypodermically, there is apparently no 
difference whether the crude or the refined oil is used, but accurate data 
with regard to this point are not yet available. 
*U. S. Pub. Health Rept. 29 (1914) 2765. 
“Am. Journ. Trop. Dis. 2 (1914) 324, 
