Page:The Indian Journal of Medical Research, 1920.djvu/7



{{c|{Chemical Laboratory, Medical College, Calcutta.)}}

the following communication an account is given of the results which have been obtained during the chemical investigation of chaulmoogra oil and some closely related oils with the object of testing their efficacy in the treatment of leprosy.

1. Oil jrom TaraJctogenos Kurzii. — (Chaulmoogra Oil.)

The chemistry of this oil was carefully investigated by Power and Barrowcliff {Journ. Chem. Sac. .Trans., 1905, 896). An attempt by the author to separate the oil by fractional distillation under diminished pressure was unsuccessful as it decomposed. The free fatty acids also decomposed when distilled at 40 mm., the lowest pressure obtainable. The oil used had the following constants : — By Butyro-refractometer. By Abbe-refractometer. Oil extracted with light petroleum . . 1-4729/40° r4747/31-4r Oil extracted with ether 1-4723/40° 1-4733/31-4° The neutralisation value of the total acids obtained from the oil was found to be 142-6 milligrams NaOH. Samples of the oil obtained from the seeds both by extraction witii light petroleum and by pressing were hydrolysed and the fatty acids carefully fractionated_ by crystallisation from alcohol. It was fomid that the fraction melting at about 50° was the most suitable for use, J, MR ( 211 ) 1