areas by La] et al. (1937) and Chopra et al. (1939). There is little to doubt that adulterated mustard oil is primarily responsible for the large outbreaks of epidemic dropsy. More recently S. N. Sarkar (1948) has isolated the toxic alkaloid, sanguinerine, from argemone oil and shown its capillary dilating and other deleterious properties in animals. Bailey, Robinson and Staunton (1950) have la...

Epidemic dropsy is a clinical state resulting from use of edible oils adulterated with Argemone mexicana oil. Sanguinarine and dehydrosanguinarine are two major toxic alkaloids of Argemone oil, which cause widespread capillary dilatation, proliferation and increased capillary permeability. Leakage of the protein-rich plasma component into the extracellular compartment leads to the formation of ...

Present history?In April 1930, having become alarmed and obtaining no relief from local treatment at Dakor, the patient came to Benares. Here he consulted some local vaids, hakeems and doctors, and he was told that he would not live for more than ten days. Finally, I too was consulted and advised Novasurol injections. At the time of my examination the heart was already markedly affected. The ab...