THE USE OF CHAULMOOGRA OIL AS A SPECIFIC FOR LEPROSY l 



By Harvey C. Brill and Robert R. Williams 

 (From the Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Bureau of Science, Manila) 



Regarding the cure of leprosy by means of chaulmoogra oil, 

 considerable differences of opinion exist. Thompson, 2 of New 

 South Wales, was unable to effect any cures by its use. The 

 Philippine Health Service released twenty-three cases from Cu- 

 lion leper colony about a year ago that had been treated with 

 chaulmoogra oil. No positive claims that it brought about these 

 cures are made by the more judicial members of the Health 

 Service staff, nor can these patients be considered permanently 

 cured until they have been under observation for a longer period 

 of time. However, chaulmoogra oil appears to be the most pro- 

 mising remedy for the treatment of leprosy at present known. 



The administration of chaulmoogra oil is accompanied by con- 

 siderable difficulties. When administered by mouth, nausea and 

 digestive disturbances follow. Given subcutaneously, it is ab- 

 sorbed slowly, since it is a heavy oil; consequently its adminis- 

 tration in this manner is painful, due to the pressure on the nerves 

 and the sores that result from the slow absorption. Then not all 

 cases react to the treatment. The nonuniformity of the results 

 that follow its administration may be due to a difference in the 

 quality of the oil or to a variation in the disease itself in dif- 

 ferent localities. 



Crude chaulmoogra oil is usually recommended for use. s 



The recommendations of those engaged in its administration 

 are strongly in favor of the crude oil, but these opinions may 

 partly be a matter of prejudice. These practicioners undoubt- 

 edly have been previously disposed in its favor by their reading, 

 and as observations of leprosy treatment are not very general 

 nor very decisive, and as recovery in any case is slow, decisions 

 as to its efficiency are difficult to form. We must conclude that 

 cases of positive cures by means of chaulmoogra oil are not de- 

 finitely proved. 



1 Received for publication January 29, 1917. 



2 Report of the Board of Health on Leprosy in New South Wales (1908). 

 'United States Dispensatory. 18th ed. (1899), 1678. 



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