Treatment of Leprosy

DERIVATIVES of chaulmoogra and hydnocarpus oils now have an established position in the treatment of leprosy. The active constituents are certain fatty acids, which are usually administered as their soluble sodium salts or as the ethyl esters. A mixture of esters of the acids of the chaulmoogric series with 0.5 per cent iodine has been recently recommended for the intradermal treatment of the superficial lesions of the disease: the addition of the iodine reduces the irritating properties of the ethyl esters. The intradermal method is relatively free from general and local reactions: rapid resolution of the raised macules, infiltrations, and nodules is reported when small amounts of the solution of esters and iodine are injected into the skin around them. Messrs. Burroughs, Wellcome and Co., London, have issued a solution of these esters with 0.5 per cent iodine, suitable for intradermal and intramuscular administration, under the name “Iodised Moogrol”. It is recommended that 5 c.c. be given at weekly intervals: the intradermal injection should be 0.1 c.c. at each point. Intradermal administration should be combined with intramuscular, part of the dose being given by each route.