Abstract
Recent work by Hart, Steenbock and others 1 and Myers and Beard 2 has given rise to opposing results as to the value of metals other than copper in the regeneration of hemoglobin in the anaemic white rat. The suggestion has been made 3 that these differing results were due to the fact that the work was carried out in 2 rather widely separated localities. It has seemed to us that the publication of our results obtained in a third and entirely different section of the country might be of value as bearing on this point.
The rats used were from a local laboratory strain, originally a Wistar Institute stock. The milk used came entirely from one cow, was milked in an enamelled vessel and brought to the laboratory in glass bottles, with the result that there was no contact with metal previous to feeding. This precaution was found to be necessary since neither raw nor pasteurized milk bought on the open market sufficed to produce an anaemia in the white rat, although it comprised the sole diet of the animals for a period of 6 months.
Several attempts were made to obtain iron, free from traces of other metals, but electrolytic deposition was the only method producing a sample of iron which does not allow a regeneration of hemoglobin in anaemic white rats. Whether or not it may prolong the life of the animal, 4 we are not at this time prepared to state. The method used for the electrolytic deposition of iron was that of Classen and v. Reis. 5 Copper was prepared electrolytically by the method of H. Sand, 6 , 7 and cobalt by that of Denso.
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