Abstract
About a year ago we conceived the idea that certain minerals, particularly iodine and iron, might be used as substitutes for Vitamin A. Rather extensive experiments with these minerals have been performed and the results with 57 rats are to appear soon in Science.
Having established the optimum dosage of iron iodide for rats on the Sherman A-free diet, it was deemed advisable to test the action of potassium arsenite, administered in the form of a Fowler's solution of arsenic. The formula used did not include the oil of lavender ordinarily incorporated as it was feared that contamination with vitamin A might result.
The animals used were agouti and pink-eyed yellow rats, both extremely resistant stocks, described elsewhere. As in other experiments performed in our laboratory, the young rats, approximately 30 days of age, were placed in individual round cages of the Sherman type and furnished a plentiful supply of distilled water. Individual records were kept of the foods consumed and weights were recorded twice each week. Autopsies were performed as soon as possible after death.
Twenty-eight animals were used in the experiment. The control animals used in the experiment were 23 in number, 15 negative and 8 positive. The positive controls received 1 drop of cod liver oil daily, whereas the negative controls were fed only Sherman A-free diet No. 380. Five animals placed on the standard Sherman A-free diet No. 380, received in addition, 3 drops daily of a solution of iron iodide which was added to their food. Each animal received 0.01 mgm. of irradiated ergosterol which was fed daily mixed with 1 gm. of the deficiency diet No. 380. Fowler's solution of arsenic was administered in the drinking water in such strength that each cubic centimeter contained 0.379 mgm. of arsenic.
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