MINERAL METABOLISM 331 



Hemoglobin, on the other hand, exerted a distinctly favorable influence 

 (Hooper, Robscheit and Whipple). 



V. Xoordeii points out that artificially produced anemia is not compa- 

 rable with chlorosis, nor are the conclusions from experimental results in- 

 terchangeable, because in this disease it is not a matter of lack of food 

 iron, and the stimulus required by the blood-forming organs seems to 

 be more powerful in inorganic iron preparations than in iron-containing 

 proteins. Evidently no general conclusions can as yet be drawn. From 

 the standpoint of the physiology of nutrition the whole question is, accord- 

 ing to Albu and Xeuberg, of minor importance since the iron of foods 

 is almost entirely in organic combination. Sherman voices the opposite 

 opinion and considers that it is of great importance to know whether the 

 iron in natural waters can supplement an inadequate supply of food iron. 

 To what extent the full-grown organism can husband its resources of iron 

 is still uncertain but there is no question as to the need of abundant iron 

 in growth and in pregnancy. The retention of iron observed at high alti- 

 tudes and considered as evidence of the need of additional iron supplies 

 (v. Wench (&)) requires confirmation (Sundstroem (&)). 



The role of tho spleen in iron metabolism is uncertain and many of 

 the conclusions reached are quite contradictory. The iron content of the 

 spleen is decreased by repeated bleeding and during pregnancy, and is 

 increased by hemolytic processes and by the administration of iron. 

 Investigations on splenectomized animals indicated that the fecal iron 

 in such animals was considerably above normal ( Asher and Grossenbacher ; 

 Chevallier(c) ; Bayer (a)), especially when loss of body protein was caused 

 by underfeeding, and remained so for many months (Asher and Zimmer- 

 mann), though these findings have recently not been corroborated (Austin 

 and Pearce). There was some loss of hemoglobin (Pugliese) or none at 

 all unless the food was poor in iron (Tcdeschi; Asher and Vogel). Such 

 anemia in dogs was more marked on a diet of cooked meat than when the 

 meat was fed raw (Pearce, Austin and Pepper). Examination of differ- 

 ent organs and tissues microcheniically and analytically indicated a 

 changed distribution of iron, the liver of guinea pigs containing less than 

 normal (Pana) although an increase is also reported; in frogs a decrease 

 was observed in all tissues and organs (Gambarati). The various changes 

 develop gradually, persist for several months, and finally diminish (Cheval- 

 lier(a)(&)) as if other organs developed a vicarious activity. It would 

 seem that the spleen is an organ for the assimilation of iron, and is not 

 necessary for the process of blood destruction (Meinertz(o.)), but that it 

 retains for the body the iron that has been set free ; but whether it does 

 this for the iron resulting from the destruction of erythrocytes (Bayer (c)) 

 or for that originating in food is not determined. In cases of .pernicious 

 anemia and hemolytic icterus splenectomy has been of advantage ; in these 

 cases, however, a previously abnormally large loss of iron in the feces was 



