Osmo Turpeinen 



575 



correlation between these two variables cannot be a very close one, for the 

 values seem to be rather irregularly distributed. Among families with very 

 low intakes of ascorbic acid, cases of normal capillary resistance are often 

 found, and, on the other hand, a relatively high ascorbic acid intake does 



TABLE 1 



Distribution of 6i6 Persons in Regard to the Ascorbic Acid Content of the Diet and 



Capillary Fragility 



* The number of petechiae indicates: 0-4, normal capillary resistance; 5-8, borderline cases; and over 8, increased 

 fragility (Gothlin). 



not seem to exclude increased capillary fragility. Only when the ascorbic 

 acid intake reaches the level of nearly twice the estimated requirement do 

 cases of increased capillary fragility disappear. However, if the array means 

 shown in table i are examined, it may be seen that, though there is much 

 irregular fluctuation, the capillary-fragility values tend to decrease slightly 

 when ascorbic acid intake is increased, and, on the other hand, the average 

 intake of ascorbic acid generally becomes somewhat lower in persons with 

 higher capillary fragility. Thus there seems to be at least some kind of cor- 

 relation between these two variables. 



