380 THE VITAMINES 



in true cases. McCollum, Simmonds and Parsons (I.e. 1222a) re- 

 gard hemeralopia as of dietetic origin, and curable with cod liver 

 oil. Appletpn (1487b) considers hemeralopia and snow blindness, 

 as it occurs in polar regions (Labrador), due to the strong sun rays 

 on the basis of a nervous disturbance and supposed to occur only 

 in men who work in the open. Pick (1488) and Feilchenfeld (1489) 

 reported on the influence of war diets upon various eye affections. 



EXOPHTHALMIC GOITRE (GRAVES DISEASE) 



In the study of experimental rickets in dogs, Edward and May 

 Mellanby (I.e. 408a and b) made the interesting observation that 

 on feeding certain fats, like butter, a hyperplasia of the thyroid 

 develops which can be cured by cod liver oil. This observation has 

 been made use of in human cases and good results have been obtained, 

 though the number of cases up to the present have been insufficient 

 to permit of definite conclusions being made. 



THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VITAMINES IN INFECTIONS 



Since an inadequate diet, especially the deficiency in vitamines, 

 lowers the resistance towards infections, an insufficient production 

 of antibodies was first thought of as an explanation. The question 

 has been studied experimentally by some investigators. Hektoen 

 (1490), in rats on artificial diet, and Zilva (1491), in rats and guinea 

 pigs on a vitamine-poor diet, observed a normal formation of anti- 

 bodies. On the other hand, according to Kleinschmidt (1492) the 

 hemolysin formation does not attain its normal value on an un- 

 suitable diet. It is well known that the method of feeding plays an 

 important part in various infections, as has been shown by E. Thomas 

 (1493), Valagussa (1494) and Peiser (1495). The latter reported 

 especially on the influence of the dietary fat on the resistance to 

 infection. During the course of our discussion, we have already 

 pointed out the possible relationship between the vitamines and 

 some infections, and we must call attention to the fact that since the 

 recognition of the nature of ophthalmia, this matter has assumed 

 greater significance. The known data on ophthalmia indicate 

 perhaps, that they may be partially applied to other infectious 

 conditions. For here, we have a local infection that may be 

 influenced specifically by a vitamine therapy. 



