The dermatitis produced by East Indian satinwood ('chloroxylon swietenia') / by J. Theodore Cash.

  • Cash, John Theodore, 1854-1936.
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The dermatitis produced by East Indian satinwood ('chloroxylon swietenia') / by J. Theodore Cash. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    placed in the decoction there was slight extravasation of blood into the stomach. It may also be recorded that reflexes failed at a time when the heart was still beating effectively. The gastrocnemii responded feebly to indirect as well as to direct galvanic stimulation, and showed evidence of early fatigue after repeated contraction. The corresponding infusion had lower activity than the decoction, the earliest fatal issue being in nineteen days, whilst the latest was in forty-one. There was no distinct increase of biliary evacuation and no augmentation of epidermic sloughing when contrasted with a control animal kept in a like amount of tap water, but otherwise under parallel conditions. No haemorrhage was present in the alimentary canal, but there was a limited congestion of the mucous membrane of mouth, stomach, and intestine. Whilst the infusion can scarcely be regarded as definitely toxic towards frogs, the decoction is distinctly more active, but the symptoms of an irritant character (apart from other effects which do not concern us here) are at most but slight, and are chiefly displayed by the mucous lining of the alimentary canal rather than by the skin. The possibility of the entrance of fluid by the mouth in these experiments must be held in view. The distinctly aromatic (coumarin-like) odour of the East Indian satinwood suggested the presence of a body possibly volatile and active. Experiments were therefore made by conducting a current of air through a flask con- taining 5 grams of the sawdust, and thence by a rubber tube 2 ft. in length through a wide-mouthed bottle, into which a frog had been introduced. The flask was gently warmed over a water bath. At the expiration of two hours the atmosphere of the large laboratory in which the experiment was conducted was redolent of the peculiar coumarin- like odour, but the animal showed no sign of excitement, nor was there subsequently the slightest evidence of desquamation or other positive effect. Application of Satimvood to the Shin. (a) Babbits.—Application of the wood of Chloroxylon Sioietenia to the inner surface of the outer ears of rabbits was practically without effect. In one series of experi- ments the dust was placed in bags of fine muslin 4 cm. in length by 1.5 cm. in width ; in a second series fragments of wood 3.5 cm. in length by 1.5 in width, carefully shaped to fit the ear, were prepared. The ear was folded longi- tudinally over the bag or fragment, two thin strips of adhesive plaster being used to keep the body in position. Contact was maintained for five consecutive days. The result was negative. Moistening the dust or wood with (a) water, (b) almond oil, or (c) very dilute acetic acid, was also practised; but in no instance was redness, eruption, or the slightest evidence of itching or discomfort observed at the time of application or subsequently. (b) Man.—Application of the unreduced wood to the skin proved an awkward proceeding for the ambulant subject, and as such was abandoned, the sawdust being substituted for experiment; of this, 5 grams was placed in a muslin bag of fine texture. The bag was moistened with