EFFECTS OF CERTAIN DEUGS AND POISONS Y53 



inorganic forms, but that the organic preparations themselves must under- 

 go hydrolysis in the intestine whence they are assimilated as inorganic 

 phosphates. On this subject reference should be made to the review by 

 E. K. Marshall. 



Lecithin was shown by Danilewski to hasten the growth of frogs' eggs 

 and to augment assimilative processes in mammals. Cronheim and Miiller 

 produced with this phosphorus-containing lipoid a stimulating effect upon 

 the protein anabolism. 



Cod Liver Oil. Cod liver oil was selected as a vehicle for phosphorus 

 because for many years some unknown specific property as a nutritional 

 stimulant had been ascribed to it, but more critical authors were inclined 

 to regard it merely as a well assimilated food. Osborne and Mendel (/), 

 however, have demonstrated a specific influence of cod liver oil upon the 

 growth of white rats. Fats like lard, almond oil etc., do not possess this 

 property which appears to be due to the fat-soluble vitamin. Schloss has 

 apparently demonstrated for it a calcium-retaining power in rickets (see 

 Calcium), in which disease Mellanby(c) finds it superior to all other fats. 



Howland and Park recently have demonstrated the deposition of cal- 

 cium in bone as a result of cod liver oil administration ; in human beings 

 this is demonstrable after three weeks. Marked increase in the blood 

 phosphorus was also observed. 



It seems probable, therefore, that cod liver oil promotes in some way 

 the mobilization of phosphorus in the blood which in turn stimulates the 

 calcium metabolism, perhaps through its peculiar tendency to augment the 

 lactic acid content of the blood. 



Hess(c) finds cod liver oil inferior to orange juice in the scurvy of 

 guinea pigs. 



Arsenic and Antimony. With respect to its effect upon the metabol- 

 ism, arsenic appears to occupy a position midway between phosphorus 

 and the heavy metals. The stimulating effect upon bone formation, the 

 fatty infiltration, the lactic acid excess, the loss of the capacity to store 

 or to retain glycogen although glycosuria is rare, all bring it into close 

 relationship with phosphorus. The fatty degenerative changes after arsenic 

 are, however, less marked and the fat balance is positive. On the other 

 hand, it appears to be a capillary poison, which fact is held to account for 

 those profound intestinal disturbances which suggest the behavior of 

 heavy metals. 



The metabolic effects of antimony resemble those of arsenic. 



T. Gies and others observed that repeated administration of small 

 doses of arsenic to animals resulted in the production of a positive fat 

 balance and new bone formation in which the long bones became thickened 

 and the Haversion canals filled. That the therapeutic administration of 

 arsenic improves the nutrition in a more subtle fashion than by merely 

 stimulating the appetite or improving digestion is shown by the investiga- 



