VITAMIN G (B,) 143 



body temperature remained normal until shortly before death, and, 

 though the food intake was gradually reduced, complete loss of appetite 

 was not evident, nor was there any appearance of the characteristic 

 nerve symptoms of polyneuritis. The skin changes, which are described 

 in detail in the original paper (Findlay, 1928), were bilaterally sym- 

 metrical and were regarded by Findlay as very similar to those of 

 pellagra in man. 



Chick and Roscoe (1928) reported that, on a basal diet supple- 

 mented with Peters' antineuritic concentrate but free from vitamin G, 

 young rats were maintained for three months or more at practically 

 constant weight, with fair appetite and no outward symptoms with the 

 exception of an abnormality of the skin which usually but not always 

 developed after the fifth or sixth week. The most constant features of 

 the skin condition were: (1) Dermatitis and loss of hair from the 

 eyelids, which may become stuck together; if the eyelids are loosened 

 by bathing with warm water, the eyes, though much sunken, appear to 

 be healthy; (2) front paws stained with blood, caused by rubbing the 

 inflamed margins of the nostrils; wetting of the lower portion of the 

 abdomen with blood stained urine; (3) dermatitis and loss of fur on 

 head, round the nose and mouth and on the abdomen. 



The irregularity in the occurrence of the skin symptoms and the 

 occasional instances of animals deprived of vitamin G (Bg) remaining 

 stunted in growth but not exhibiting skin lesions suggested to Chick 

 and Roscoe the possibility of more than one dietary deficiency. 



These authors did not observe the irritability in the rats as noted 

 by Findlay nor the loss of appetite which he recorded. On the addition 

 of vitamin G to the diet there was a rapid response in growth and 

 improvement in the dermatitis. 



Salmon, Hays and Guerrant (1928) found that on their basal 

 "pellagra-producing" ration, young rats made little or no increase in 

 weight, but showed no particular symptoms for from 2 to 4 weeks 

 after the preliminary depletion period of 2 weeks. The symptoms which 

 then developed gradually were alopecia, dermatitis, stomatitis, oph- 

 thalmia, and arthritis, and usually cachexia. The internal lesions of 

 advanced cases were, "hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, atrophy of the 

 spleen, fatty infiltration or degeneration of the liver, cloudy swelling 

 of the kidneys, and often cystitis. There is a relation between the 

 character of the diet and the occurrence of the syndrome. A mild 

 dermatitis has been found among mature rats receiving a diet which is 

 adequate for excellent growth and reproduction. The severe form has 

 been produced only on restricted diets." They further report that bac- 



