X. PHARMACOLOGY 379 



methemoglobin, improvement in the color of the patient, and rcliet of 

 the secondary polycythemia while administration is continued, but with 

 no lasting beneficial effects.'"'^ It is alleged to have antihemolytic effects 

 also.'* 



It has been claimed that ascorbic acid has anti-infection properties and 

 an effect on complement formation.'^' '® There is no doubt that ascorbic 

 acid levels in the plasma are low antl that urinary excretion is reduced"- '^ 

 in infectious diseases, especially tuberculosis, and that much larger doses 

 are required to keep these levels in the normal range. This does not mean, 

 however, that ascorbic acid has anti-infection properties. Ascorbic acid 

 has been used as a panacea for bleeding gums^^'- and, with vitamin K, for 

 bleeding of any type. It has been recommended for colds, brucellosis, 

 tuberculosis, ulcerative colitis, regional ileitis, glomerulonephritis, per- 

 tussis, smallpox, schizophrenia, cobra venom poisoning, infectious hepa- 

 titis, tonsillitis, and many other unrelated conditions. With the years, this 

 therapeutic enthusiasm has waned, since in none of these conditions did 

 the therapy withstand the test of time. 



There have been reports that ascorl)ic acid increases the absorption of 

 iron,-' and both the suggestion-^ and the denial-^- -^ that ascorbic acid in- 

 fluences the utilization of iron. Therefore, this vitamin has been included 

 in many iron preparations for oral use. Recent evidence obtained by feeding 

 foods containing iron tagged with isotopic Fe^^ to animals and human 

 subjects indicates that the absorption of organic food iron is greatly 

 facilitated if reducing substances are administered orally at the same time. 

 Ascorbic acid is the most active of these and increases absorption of 

 organic food iron in normal subjects and those with hypochromic anemia 



^^ H. Barcroft, Q. H. Gibson, D. C. Harrison, and J. McMurraj^ Clin. Science 5, 



145 (1945). 

 " R. F. Sievers and J. B. Ryon, Arch. Internal. Med. 76, 299 (1945). 

 "M. Carnrick, B. D. Polis, and T. Klein, Arch. Internal Med. 78, 296 (1946). 

 " C. A. Finch, Bull. New Engl. Med. Center 9, 241 (1947). 

 "V. Traina, Nature 164, 843 (1949). 



>* E. E. Ecker, L. Pillemer, D. Werthoinior, and H. Gradis, ./. Immunol. 34, 19 (1938). 

 >» E. E. Ecker, L. Pillemer, J. J. Griffitts, and W. P. Schwartz, J. Am. Med. Assoc. 



112, 1449 (1939). 

 " J. M. Faulkner and F. H. L. Taylor, Ann. Internal Med. 10, 1867 (1937). 

 >8 M. A. Abbasy, L. J. Harris, and P. EUman, Lancet II, 181 (1937). 

 » F. S. Roff and A. J. Glazebrook, J. Roy. Navy Med. Serv. 25, 340 (1939). 

 "F. Stuhl, Lancet I, 640 (1943). 

 21 B. S. Kent, Lancet I, 642 (1943). 

 "M. T. Hanke, J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 17, 957 (1930). 



"H. Schroder and M. Braun-Stappenbeck, Klin. Woch.^chr. 20, 979 (1941). 

 "H. Albers, Arch. Gyndkol. 172, 547 (1942). 

 "A. Videbaek and G. Aisled, Acta Med. Scand. 114, 403 (1943). 

 28 H. V. Schulze and A. F. Morgan, Am. J. Diseases Children 71, 593 (1946). 



