Recently Lukens1 called attention to the use of chaulmoogra oil in the treatment of tuberculous laryngitis, stressing the relief of pain and dysphagia which followed its use. Certainly, any agent which is capable of relieving the distress caused by an actively tuberculous larynx is worthy of the utmost consideration, and should be given a trial.
Although the use of chaulmoogra oil has been attended by quite markedly beneficial results in the treatment of leprosy and, by some, is regarded as a specific in this disease, its use in tuberculosis is still in the experimental stage. Kolmer, Davis and Jager2 have shown that the oil has no effect on virulent tubercle bacilli in their experiments on guinea-pigs, using an in vitro-vivo method. Therefore, we should not expect the oil to act as an active bactericidal agent in any lesions. Voegtlin, Smith and Johnson,3 in a more extensive set