Simple Experimental Anemia and Liver Extracts.

Abstract

In 1920 Whipple, Robscheit and Hooper 1 reported that liver feeding had a very favorable influence on the production of red cells and hemoglobin in dogs during short anemia periods. Since that time Whipple and Robscheit-Robbins have shown that in long standing severe anemia in dogs a liver diet has an extraordinary effect. In fact a diet of liver (beef, pig, sheep, calf or chicken) will produce a maximum regeneration of blood hemoglobin and red cells under standard experimental conditions. 2

During this considerable experimental period we have tested from time to time a variety of liver extractives. Dr. Hooper in San Francisco tested an alcohol-ether extract upon a few cases of severe pernicious anemia with results which at that time were believed to be negative. In our work we have paid particular attention to changes in the hemoglobin index during these diet periods. We have used a considerable variety of food materials and extracts in an effort to modify the hemoglobin index. The hemoglobin index is obtained by dividing the hemoglobin expressed in per cent by the red cell hematocrit expressed in per cent. At times it appeared that we could decrease the hemoglobin index by certain foods or extracts (Table I) which might indicate a more rapid formation of stroma than of hemoglobin so that the cells would be less completely saturated with hemoglobin. Again we noted an increase in the hernoglobin index which might indicate a more rapid production of hemoglobin than of strorna. These changes are not great and are inconstant, but we believe these changes are significant and in time will be fully understood.