PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE Reference :—
mwimmimC.O. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
|ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
62
large number of parasites, but this also occurs when thymol is used. The Carlsbad water treatment is desirable in these heavily infected cases, because the intestine is covered with thick mucous collections. The addition of chloroform to castor oil is not strictly necessary, but it does no harm and increases the percentage of cures. In carrying out treatments on a large scale, where it is necessary that the means be of the greatest simplicity, the use of the chloroform must largely depend upon whether it is practicable. We give 3 grammes of chloroform plus 17 grammes of castor oil.
"The details of the treatment are as follows: In the morning, at 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0 o'clock respectively, a dose of 04 grammes of oil of chenopodium, in weighed and sealed capsules is given to the patient. This is a total of 12 grammes for the three successive hourly periods. It is understood, of course, that no morning meal has been eaten. At 10.0 o'clock the castor oil is given, with or without chloro- form. I give European patients 05 grammes of the oil of chenopodium three times at hourly intervals; that is, 15 grammes is the daily dose. I repeat the treatment after an interval of three or four days. When there is no hurry I wait longer, because one can then be fully assured as to the effect of the treatinent.
"About a year-and-a-half ago we were much alarmed by a report from a physician that he had observed fatal results after the chenopodium treatment had been administered. We were at a loss to account for this result, because, in accordance with our experience, we have at the most seen only slight symptoms from the use of chenopodium. (There are also three or four other colleagues of mine who have never observed any deaths or bad results from the use of chenopodium in the treatment of a total of 50,000 cases.) Recently I learned that there was some doubt as to whether the untoward symptoms and death reported by the physician in question were really due to chenopodium. He admitted that an error might have occurred in the wholesale administration of the remedy. It seems that an emulsion was used which had separated, and was therefore of uneven composi- tion. This means that one patient perhaps received a very large dose and another a very small one. I felt very much reassured after hearing this explanation, because it enabled me to dismiss as unreliable the report which cast doubt upon the safety of oil of chenopodium. Moreover, the physician now reports that he has had excellent results from the large dose of 06 grammes, which he gives at hourly intervals until three doses are taken; that is, 18 grammes is the daily dose. He does not seem to be aware that in giving these larger doses he is exceeding the amounts recommended by Vervoorts and myself. This experience has convinced me that the oil is not dangerous, even when given in doses one-half higher than I have recommended.
The slight symptom of intoxication which we observe now and then, although it occurs very rarely, consists in a tingling in the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. I have observed this symptom in patients who failed to take the castor oil, but do not know whether this was a coincidence or a matter of cause and effect. We have come to the conclusion that a purgative should be administered after the chenopodium is taken, but are in doubt as to whether castor oil is the best. Unfor- tunately we have had to postpone our experiments in this direction because the labourers on the plantations have been so thoroughly free of hookworms that avail- able material is lacking. We hope, however, to be able to resume these experiments in the near future. It may be possible that a more complete expulsion of the paralysed worms may be attained with sulphate of magnesia, or with rhubarb or calomel."
18487
63
No. 38.
CEYLON.
MR. WICKLIFFE ROSE to THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR.
(Received in the Colonial Office, 18th April, 1916.)
The Rockefeller Foundation International Health Commission, DEAR MR. PAge,
61, Broadway, New York, 31st March, 1916. I HAVE just received a letter from Dr. Snodgrass, of Ceylon, dated 18th February, reporting continued gratifying progress with the work there.
Two or three items of this letter are worthy of special mention.
(1) The story of the improvement of the Tamil coolies who have been treated on the estates has spread among the Sinhalese in the villages. These Sinhalese are coming in voluntarily and asking for examination and treatment. This is being given, and the result thus far shows a heavy infection among the Sinhalese. Those who have received treatment are reporting the improvement to their neighbours, and the tide is increasing. Dr. Snodgrass says it is evident that he will soon be conducting a large dispensary treatment among the Sinhalese. The labour on the estates is composed mainly of Tamils brought from Southern India. The Sinhalese are the native population of Ceylon. It had been thought that the infection among the Sinhalese was not very heavy.
(2) Dr. Snodgrass recently examined the manager of one of the estates and found him heavily infected. This news, he says, has spread like wild-fire among the Europeans, and came up for serious discussion at a recent meeting of the Planters' Association in Kandy. He is now distributing containers to the Europeans, and a systematic examination of the white population is to be undertaken.
(3) Dr. Rutherford, the Principal Civil Medical Officer of Ceylon, recently inspected the work, and expressed himself as being grafified with the progress which is being made.
Very sincerely yours,
Hon. Walter H. Page,
American Embassy,
London, England.
21341
SIB,
No. 39. CEYLON.
WICKLIFFE ROSE.
TROPICAL DISEASES BUREAU to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received 5th May, 1916.)
Tropical Diseases Bureau, Imperial Institute,
London, S. W., 5th May, 1916.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 17th April (13524/1016), transmitting a memorandumt prepared by Dr. Schüffner, of Sumatra, on oil of chenopodium in the treatment of uncinariasis.
2. This treatment seems to have been brought into use by Dr. Schüffner, who reported in 1913 that oil of chenopodium was more energetic in its action on anky- lostomes than thymol, beta-naphthol, or oil of eucalyptus, but that it was more expensive. Major Clayton Lane, I.M.S., in India found its efficiency about equal to that of thymol. More recently two observers have reported from Panama that they have used oil of chenopodium in 108 cases. They find the method of administration simpler than with thymol, that a cure can be effected more quickly, and that it is non-poisonous in therapeutic doses, besides being a more efficient vermifuge. Similar conclusions are come to by an observer in Georgia.
3. It is evident that oil of chenopodium is at least equal in value to the other vermifuges in use to-day, and that further investigations may demonstrate its superiority. Whether or not it will supersede the other vermifuges will depend upon its price.
I have, &c.,
ARTHUR G. BAGSHAWE,
Director of Bureau.
18487
63
No. 38.
CEYLON.
MR. WICKLIFFE ROSE to THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR.
(Received in the Colonial Office, 18th April, 1916.)
The Rockefeller Foundation International Health Commission,
61, Broadway, New York, 31st March, 1916.
Dear Mr. Page,
I HAVE just received a letter from Dr. Snodgrass, of Ceylon, dated 18th February, reporting continued gratifying progress with the work there. Two or three items of this letter are worthy of special mention.
(1) The story of the improvement of the Tamil coolies who have been treated on the estates has spread among the Sinhalese in the villages. These Sinhalese are coming in voluntarily and asking for examination and treatment. This is being given, and the result thus far shows a heavy infection among the Sinhalese. Those who have received treatment are reporting the improvement to their neighbours, and the tide is increasing. Dr. Snodgrass says it is evident that he will soon be conducting a large dispensary treatment among the Sinhalese. The labour on the estates is composed mainly of Tamils brought from Southern India. The Sinhalese are the native population of Ceylon. It had been thought that the infection among the Sinhalese was not very heavy.
(2) Dr. Snodgrass recently examined the manager of one of the estates and found him heavily infected. This news, he says, has spread like wild-fire among the Europeans, and came up for serious discussion at a recent meeting of the Planters' Association in Kandy. He is now distributing containers to the Europeans, and a systematic examination of the white population is to be undertaken.
(3) Dr. Rutherford, the Principal Civil Medical Officer of Ceylon, recently inspected the work, and expressed himself as being grafified with the progress which is being made.
Hon. Walter H. Page,
American Embassy,
21341
London, England.
Very sincerely yours.
WICKLIFFE ROSE.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TILLICO. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHÉNOT TO
SIB,
No. 39. CEYLON.
TROPICAL DISEASES BUREAU to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received 5th May, 1916.)
Tropical Diseases Bureau, Imperial Institute,
London, S. W., 5th May, 1916. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 17th April (18524/1016),* transmitting a memorandumt prepared by Dr. Schüffner, of Sumatra, on oil of chenopodium in the treatment of uncinariasis.
2. This treatment seems to have been brought into use by Dr. Schüffner, who reported in 1918 that oil of chenopodium was more energetic in its action on anky- lostomes than thymol, beta-naphthol, or oil of eucalyptus, but that it was more expensive. Major Clayton Lane, I.M.S., in India found its efficiency about equal to that of thymol. More recently two observers have reported from Panama that they have used oil of chenopodium in 108 cases. They find the method of administration simpler than with thymol, that a cure can be effected more quickly, and that it is non-poisonous in therapeutic doses, besides being a more efficient vermifuge. Similar conclusions are come to by an observer in Georgia.
8. It is evident that oil of chenopodium is at least equal in value to the other vermifuges in use to-day, and that further investigations may demonstrate its superiority. Whether or not it will supersede the other vermifuges will depend upon its price.
I have, &c.,
ARTHUR G. BAGSHAWE,
Director of Bureau.