A further demonstration of the part played by accessory food factors in the ætiology of rickets / by Edward Mellanby.

  • Mellanby, Edward, Sir, 1884-1955.
Date:
[1918?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A further demonstration of the part played by accessory food factors in the ætiology of rickets / by Edward Mellanby. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    2/4
    [From the Proceedings of the Physiological Society, December 14, 1918.] Journal Physiology, Vol. LII. A further demonstration of the part played by accessory food factors in the aetiology of rickets. By Edward Mellanby. In a previous demonstration to this Society of puppies showing the part played by diet in producing and preventing Rickets, it was seen that, using a standard rachitic diet of bread and milk (175 c.c.), the disease was prevented by butter, cod liver oil and most other fats tested, increased milk (500 c.c.), meat and meat extracts, but was not pre¬ vented by yeast, linseed oil and the proteins of milk and meat. On the basis of these results, an attempt was made to improve the standard rachitic diet in order to produce a more rapid development of the disease and to render it less easy to prevent. In the dogs demonstrated today, the standard diet has been separated milk (175-350 c.c.), 70 per cent, wheaten bread ad lib., linseed oil 5-10 c.c., yeast 5-10 grams, orange or lemon juice 3 c.c., sodium chloride 2 grams. This diet will produce a rapid development of rickets, easily recognisable by X-ray photo¬ graph within 6 weeks of beginning the diet. In the puppies exhibited it will be seen that (1) lean meat (10 grams a day) only delays but does not prevent rickets and that the extent of the delay depends on the initial weight and rate of growth of the animal. The greater the rate of growth, the less is the effect of meat. (2) increasing the separated milk to 350-400 c.c. per diem does not prevent rickets. This excludes the possibility that the calcium intake is deficient. (3) 10 grams of butter or cod liver oil, even on the above diet, completely prevents rickets. (4) 10 grams of cotton seed oil, olive oil or babassu oil per diem does not prevent rickets when substituted for linseed oil. All vegetable oils are not equally ineffective in preventing rickets. Linseed oil is the worst of those tested, then in order of increasing merit, tentatively suggested, babassu, cotton-seed, peanut (arachis) and olive. A hydrogenated fat tested was similar to linseed oil. Suet and lard appear (experiment not completed) to prevent rickets if 10 grams of meat per diem is also eaten. A small amount of meat helps an otherwise ineffective fat.