23,6 Schobl: Chaulmoogra and Allied Preparations 537 



concentration fifty times stronger than the limit of complete 

 specific inhibition. Cod-liver oil appears to exhibit no inhibi- 

 tion toward B. tuberculosis in a dilution 1 : 100, while it inhibits 

 cholera and Staphylococcus completely, and B. typhosus partially, 

 in a dilution of the same strength. 



Comparing the growth-inhibiting effect of different oils ob- 

 tained from plants related to Taraktogenos kurzii King with 

 each other and with the effect of true chaulmoogra this experi- 

 ment (Table 2) shows that the oil of Hydnocarpus alcalae C. de 

 Candolle, a Philippine product, gives as high antiseptic value as 

 does chaulmoogra from India, while the growth-inhibiting power 

 of H. wightiana Blume is still greater; that of H. subfalcata Mer- 

 rill is little less than that of chaulmoogra, H. venenata Gaertner 

 comes next, and Gynocardia odorata R. Brown shows practically 

 no effect. 3 



It is not claimed that the values given in Table 2 are absolute, 

 but they were constant with the same samples of oils. The quan- 

 titative differences in the growth-inhibiting power of these oils 

 suggest a comparative study of these results and those obtained 

 in the therapy of leprosy. Furthermore, this experiment brings 

 out a point which seems to be of great interest. It can be seen 

 from Table 2 that all of the oils in question, with the exception 

 of Gynocardia odorata, show more or less a growth-inhibiting 

 effect. Some years ago Brill 4 conducted a chemical study of 

 chaulmoogra and related Philippine oils and came to the con- 

 clusion that all of them, with the exception of G. odorata, contain 

 in various degrees the acids peculiar to chaulmoogra. On the 

 other hand, Brill found other substances such as glucosides to 

 be present in all of the oils, including G. odorata. From these 

 findings he concluded that oils other than true chaulmoogra, 

 with the exception of G. odorata, should have a similar therapeu- 

 tic effect if the curative value of chaulmoogra is due to the pres- 

 ence of the peculiar acids. On the other hand, if the therapeutic 

 effect of chaulmoogra is due to substances other than the acids, 

 G. odorata should be just as valuable a drug as chaulmoogra. 

 My bacteriologic observations are in agreement with the chem- 

 ical findings of Brill, whose findings confirm those made pre- 

 viously by Power. 



It is further evident from this table that the growth-inhibiting 

 activity of these oils is specific. 



1 Philip. Journ. Sci. § 



