MAMMALIA— PHYSIOLOGY 443 



1929) that the term " Bios " be used to denote the factor encourag- 

 ing the rapid growth of yeast cells; that the term " B " be used to 

 designate the heat labile, antineuritic factor; that the term "G" 

 be used to denote the heat stable, water soluble, dietary factor called 

 pellagra preventive^ which has to do with maintenance and growth. 

 Alcoholic extracts of yeast lack the pellagra preventive. 



Evans and Lepkovsky showed that the glycerides of the saturated 

 lauric, capric and myristic acids were beneficial to animals deprived 

 of the anti-neuritic Vitamin B. In the treatment of " black-tongue " 

 in dogs, which he considered the analogue of human pellagra^ Gold- 

 berger had, without emphasizing its importance, added " syrup 

 iodide of iron, U. S. P." to the successful diets. Perhaps Vitamin 

 B may also involve the fat-iodin balance. 



Vitamin C, the anti-scorbutic, is found in lemons, oranges, 

 tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, green beans, peas and turnips. 

 Oysters are rich but meat is poor in Vitamin C. Deficiency in 

 Vitamin C causes a disturbance of respiratory and circulatory 

 systems, loss in weight, necrosis of the teeth, with swelling of the 

 gums, and the bones become friable. The disease known as scurvy 

 may continue to hemorrhages and death. Infantile scurvy occurs 

 in children brought up on proprietary foods. Vitamin C is soluble 

 in alcohol and is destroyed by heat in the presence of oxygen, 

 especially in an alkaline solution. Tomatoes, cooked in the can, 

 are found to retain the Vitamin, and canned spinach is reported to 

 be equal to orange juice in its Vitamin C content. 



Vitamin D controls lime and phosphorus utilization in the 

 formation of bone. It was formerly included under Vitamin A. 

 Egg yolks, cod liver oil and whole milk are rich in it. The mercury 

 lamp and the sun are effective in activating it in the body and in 

 foods. Irradiated ergosterol is an important source for experimental 

 work at present. Absence of Vitamin D produces " rickets " and 

 bone deformity. It is soluble in alcohol and oils. 



Excess of Vitamin D leads to an excessive precipitation of cal- 

 cium in the body. An imbalance between calcium, sodium and 

 potassium might be injurious, and iron assimilation might also be 

 affected by excess calcium. Commercial preparations of irradiated 

 ergosterol should be used only under the direction of a physician. 



Vitamin E, which prevents sterility, is found in all natural foods. 

 It is especially abundant in lettuce and the germ of seeds, but is also 

 found in milk and meats. It is concerned in the normal function 



