Recently Lomholt1 reported excellent results in the treatment of lupus erythematosus with a proprietary preparation of ethyl esters of chaulmoogra oil. Encouraged by Lomholt's experience and because of the fact that the preparation which he used was not readily available in this country, I employed synthesized ethyl esters of chaulmoogra oil for a similar study. Since the product I used was not identical with that used by Lomholt, no direct comparison can be drawn with his results.
In spite of the fact that a competent chemist directing a competent organization2 prepared the ethyl esters of chaulmoogra oil, my experience with the product was unfavorable. Two hundred grams of chaulmoogra oil was refluxed with 500 cc. of anhydrous ethyl alcohol in the presence of 6 cc. of sulfuric acid for forty-eight hours. The mixture was thrown into distilled water and the oily layer washed with water. It was