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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 leucocytosis 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 artemesia 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.