210 



The Philippine Journal of Science 



that some light might be thrown on the constituent in chaulmoo- 

 gra oil that is specific for leprosy; that it might be isolated and 

 that its isolation would simplify the administration of the oil ; and 

 that the more concentrated form of the physiologically active 

 substance would bring about speedier improvements in the con- 

 dition of the patients. While the results have not been entirely 

 successful in this endeavor, yet in the hope that they may give 

 an inspiration to other investigators, and because of the infor- 

 mation they give concerning chaulmoogra oil itself, they are 

 presented here. 



The administration of the preparations was kindly performed 

 by the Philippine health authorities at the Culion leper colony. 



Circumstances were such that in some cases the treatment was 

 not continued over a sufficiently prolonged period, nor were the 

 administrations frequent enough. Denney 13 has described the 

 difficulties of persuading lepers to continue a treatment for any 

 length of time. For this reason some of the fractions hereafter 

 described might show more satisfactory results under more 

 favorable circumstances. The treatment at Culion is entirely 

 voluntary. The leper voluntarily presents himself for treat- 

 ment, and the treatment is continued only as long as the patient 

 is in the humor for taking it. No coercion can be applied ; con- 

 sequently the health officer is handicapped in his desire for a 

 systematic study of the treatment of leprosy. 



Table II. — Constants of various chaulmoogra oils examined by the Bureau 

 of Science. 



Sample No. 



Specific 

 gravity 

 at 30° C. 



Specific 

 rotation 

 in chloro- 

 form for 



sodium 

 light. 



Acid va- 

 lue cc. 

 0.1 N 

 base. 



Saponifi- 

 cation 

 value. 



Index of 

 refrac- 

 tion. 



Iodine 

 value. 





0. 9535 

 0.9464 

 0.9492 

 0.9492 

 0.9429 

 0.9487 

 0.9484 

 0. 9467 

 0. 9470 

 0.9454 



+62.23 

 + 52.12 

 +45. 69 



+57.45 

 +48.95 

 4 58.20 

 +48. 73 

 +46.26 

 + 51.60 

 +47.30 



2.69 

 7.19 



21.48 

 5.63 

 1.55 

 6.36 

 2.80 

 5.56 



196.6 

 189.1 

 191.6 

 196.8 

 196.3 

 196.2 

 210.5 

 210.5 

 215.0 



1.4755 

 1.4768 

 1. 4766 

 1. 4730 

 1. 4720 

 1.4732 

 1. 4755 

 1. 4750 

 1. 4774 

 1. 4762 



99.3 

 101.1 

 102.6 



79.6 

 100.1 

 102.1 

 110.4 

 104.6 

 107.5 



99.5 



















10. __ 





0. 9535 

 0. 9429 



+58.20 

 +45.69 



21.48 

 1.55 



210. 5 

 189.1 



1. 4774 

 1. 4720 



110.4 

 97.6 



Minimum -— 





0.9471 



+50.81 



6.79 



200.4 



1.4751 



102.4 





Denney, Oswald E., This Journal, Sec. B (1915), 10, 357. 



