ROLE OF THE IODINE IN IODIZED OU; DERIVATIVES USED AS ANTIIJEPROTIC DUUGS TRIAT-l OF PLAIN AND IODIZED OLIVE OIL ETHYL

Iodine, chiefly as iodide, has long been employed in the treatment of leprosy, with varying results. Its use previous to 1911 was reviewed by Currie, Clegg, and Hollmann (1 ). The iodides had been largely abandoned as of no value or as apt to cause aggravation of the disease, but potassium iodide was reintroduced by Muir, partly for its supposed " lepromalytic" action and antigenic effect, partly for diagnostic and prognostic purposes and, used in conjunction with the erythrocyte sedimentation test, as a guide to the intensiveness with which special antileprosy trcatment with the chaulmoogra group derivatives can be given (2). Iodine in combination with the chaulmoogra ethyl esters was apparently first employed in Hawaii with the idea of enhancing the effect of the latter drug, but after several years experience with the iodized esters, both in the Philippines and in Hawaii, the conclusion was reached that the iodinc apparently had no other effect than to reduce the irritant properties of the esters (3, 4) . t For about nine years the continued use of iodine in the standard antileprotic drug in the Philippines (0.5 per cent iodized H ydnocarpus wightiana ethyl esters) has been solely on this account.