CHALAZION. See BLEPHARITIS. CHANCRE. See SYPHILIS. CHANCROID. See SYPHILIS. CHAPPED LIPS. See Mount.
CHAULMUGRA-OIL.—This is a pale brown or yellowish-brown oil obtained by expression from the seeds of the Gynocardia odorata, which is a native of farther India, more particularly of the Malay Peninsula, and is most abundant in the forests between Sikkim and Ran goon. It is always solid and unctuous in the temperate zone; has a disagree able taste and smell; and is a compound of palmitic, hypogic, cocinic, and gyno cardic acids, of which latter a fair prod uct will usually yield from 10 to 12 per cent. The oil generally found in market is rarely pure; and doubtless its vari able characteristics are responsible for the fact it no longer enjoys in Europe and America the reputation that obtains thereto in India and the Orient.
Gynocardic acid is the active con stituent. It is a yellow, unctuous solid with acrid, burning taste, the odor of the oil, and melts at 85° F. With sul phuric acid it strikes a green color, which has been cited as a test for character and purity; but, unfortunately, palmitic acid gives the same precise reaction.
Preparations and Dose.—Chaulningra liniment.
Chaulmugra-oil, 5 to 30 minims.
Chaulmugra ointment (1 to 3).
Gynocardic acid, 1 to 5 grains.
Physiological Action. — Chaulmugra oil (or chaulmoog-ra-oil) and gynocardic acid alike appear to be highly alterative and tonic in action. Both, in medium doses, leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth, and likewise some irritation of throat and pharynx; later a feeling of nausea supervenes, with oppression in the epigastrium, followed, perhaps, by vomiting, usually by slight purging, after which all symptoms quickly subside. The gynocardic acid is less likely to produce nausea; hence is more readily tolerated. T..inder continued administra tion nutrition seems to be improved, and a gain in weight is likely to be observed.
Applied locally, both are demulcent and lubricant; but, like all fatty sub stances, they act more benignly when the acute stages of inflammation have passed. This fact should always be
borne in mind when prescribing as an ointment or liniment or when applying pure in skin affections, to inflamed joints, etc.
Therapeutics. — The inhabitants of southeastern Asia have long employed chaulmugra-oil, both externally and in ternally, in the management of leprosy, skin diseases of a chronic scaly variety, in scrofula, rheumatism, etc. Its most prominent effects have been observed in the tubercular and anwsthetic forms of leprosy.
Case of macular leprosy in boy of 14. Patient first manifested signs of the dis ease at the age of 10, when erythematous and pigmented raised patches. mostly anaesthetic, appeared on various parts of the body. Chaulmugra-oil was given in doses of 12 drops daily with persistent increase, so that by the end of a year the daily quantity had become 400 minims. The anaesthesia, swelling, and erythema entirely disappeared from the patches, and the pigmentation was rapidly fading. T. D. Savill (Lancet, i, p. 12S3, 1900).
In psoriasis, lupus, and allied skin affections; in old eczemas with thick ening of the skin; in scabies and ring worm; in the form of liniment as an application in rheumatic arthritis, rheu matic gout, stiff joints, and strains. Mixed with chloroform and menthol it appears to have been very beneficial in some cases of neuralgia, sciatica, etc.
In giving the oil internally it is best to begin with 3 or 4 grains, administer ing after meals, and gradually increasing to the limits of toleration, which will usually be found somewhere between 30 and 60 grains. If the acid is employed, it is best administered in the same way, viz.: V, grain after meals and gradu ally increased to 3 or 5 grains. It must be admitted, however, that these prep arations do not seem as active in the temperate zone as in the tropics, and that the white races are not so appre ciably affected thereby as the dark.