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clinical research and many of the problems studied have a direct bearing on
the practical aspects of diagnosis and treatment of disease. The results of
these observations have been published in the Indian Journal of Medical
Research, the Indian Medical Research Memoirs, Records of Malaria
Survey and the Indian Medical Gazette from time to time. We will give
here brief summary of the important problems on which research has been
carried out.
I. Researches on the pharmacology and toxicology of remedies of special
importance to medical practice in India.
One of the earliest researches undertaken in the Calcutta School was in
connection with the pharmacology of the different alkaloids of the cinchona
bark with a view to see whether some of these were as effective as quinine
in the treatment of malaria. If the residual alkaloids after extraction of
quinine could be used, the cost of treatment would be considerably reduced.
A large amount of pharmacological and clinical work extending over several
years was carried out on cinchonine, cinchonidine, quinine, quinidine,
cupreine and hydrocupreines. The efficacy of the residual alkaloids was
demonstrated and the advantages that might be gained by employing them
in mass treatments were pointed out.
Emetine has been used in the treatment of dysenteries by practitioners
in India and its toxic manifestations 'were not appreciated. An investigation
into the pharmacology and toxicology of emetine was carried out and it
was shown that emetine had a selective toxic effect on the parenchyma of
the heart muscle. If the dosage exceeds the optimum level, toxic symptoms
especially referable to the heart supervene. Great caution - therefore is
needed in its administration.
In view of the importance of the antimony compounds in the treatment
of kala-azar, investigations into the pharmacological action of the organic
derivatives of antimony were undertaken. The pentavalent compounds
depress the circulation and respiration but stimulate the reticulo-endothelial
tissue of the spleen, liver and bone-marrow, resulting in increased leucocy-
tosis and phagocytosis. Further a rhythmic contraction of the spleen is
induced which squeezes out and disintegrates many cells laden with
leishmania parasites. An interesting development of this work was the
discovery of a Chopra Test for the diagnosis of kala-azar. This test is
easily performed, is very sensitive and renders early diagnosis of kala-azar
possible in 85 per cent. of the cases. It has been of great help in the
differential diagnosis of malaria and kala-azar in some of the endemic areas.
A large amount of work was done on the botanical, pharmacological,
toxicological and therapeutic aspects of the Indian species of artemesia and
ephedras. Excellent quality of santonin can be obtained from Indian arte-
mesia growing in Kashmir. Indian ephedras grow in abundance in certain
parts of the Himalayas and give good yield of the alkaloids. Although
pseudo-ephedrine predominates in some species, others give good yield of
ephedrine. It Was also shown that pseudo-ephedrine is pharmacologically
as active as ephedrine in many respects, is less toxic and is even a better
cardiac stimulant than ephedrine.