660 



FREDERICK S. HAMMETT 



growth was attributed to a galactogogic activity of the administered 

 placenta. The evidence from other sources, however, is strongly opposed 

 to the probability of any postpartum stimulatory effect of ingested placenta 

 on milk secretion. 



An extended investigation was carried on by Hammett to determine 

 whether or not the maternal ingestion of desiccated placenta would cause 



Day I 



Cliart I. Hammett, F. S.. J. ]5iol. Cliem. (Bait.), 1!)18, 36, 569-573. 



an appreciable difference in the rate of growth of the breast fed infants 

 when compared with that observed in normal breast fed infants. The 

 placentas for feeding were obtained from non-luetic and noii-gonorrheal 

 women at delivery, immediately ground to a pulp, mixed with 5 to 10 c.c. 

 of toluene and spread in a thin layer over a large glass plate. By 

 means of an air current from an electric fan the material was then dried 

 without appreciable decomposition in about eighteen hours to a leathery 

 semi-brittle mass. This material was then ground as fine as possible and 

 dried for twenty-four to forty-eight hours over sulphuric acid in a 

 vacuum desiccator. Regrinding resulted in a fine dry powder of uniform 

 consistence and a not unpleasant odor. The powder was administered in 

 capsules. As a basis for comparison, the data for normal growth curves 



