Abstract
During an investigation pertaining to the influence of certain foods on anemia in rats, it was observed that the hearts of those having low hemoglobin values were considerably larger than the hearts of normal animals. Thereupon the weights of the hearts of the experimental animals, computed on the percentage basis, were compared with those of normal animals as given by Donaldson. Successive biweekly hemoglobin determinations were made throughout the period of study, the last being taken just before the animals were killed. The results indicate that there is a close correlation between the size of the heart and the degree of anemia. The heart weights of animals with high hemoglobin values—from 11 gm. to 14 gm. per 100 cc. of blood (Newcomer method) are comparable to those given by Donaldson. When the hemoglobin values fell to 10 gm. the hearts were slightly hypertrophied; this became more marked as the degree of anemia increased. At the very low hemoglobin levels, from 2 gm. to 3 gm. per 100 cc., the heart weights averaged approximately 3 times that of normal animals.
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