336 Scientific Proceediiifis, lloijal DiMin Society. 



has been shown that the body stores up greatei* quantities of vitamin A^ 

 than of either B or C.| The lactation period was, in consequence of this 

 irregularity, well advanced before the effect of adding the vitamins could 

 be determined. When, eventually, the tests were proceeded with, the yields 

 of both animals were fortunately regular. Table II gives particulars of the 

 results. In the case of goat I the addition of vitamin A was effected by 

 substituting one pint of cod liver oil for one pint of linseed oil; and in the 

 case of goat II the addition of vitamin B was effected as in the original scheme, 

 i.e., by adding six ounces of marmite per week. 



The results indicate that the addition of vitamin A to a diet, so composed 

 of ordinary unpurified food as to contain the minimum of that factor, does not 

 affect either the quantity or the fat content of the milk. The same conclusion 

 holds for vitamin B. Apparently neither A nor B is concerned with the 

 activity of the mammary gland cells, or else their presence in extremely small 

 quantity suffices. At any rate it would not appear as if the quantity of either 

 milk or butter fat can be influenced by the feeding of the accessory food 

 factors. It is, however, realised that the tests^ reported in this paper were 

 so limited in extent that a conclusive statement from these determinations, 

 on the possible effects of the accessory food substai^^es in this connexion, cannot 

 be made. 



Summary. 



Neither the quantity of milk nor its richness in fat appears to be influenced 

 by the quantity of either vitamin A or B in the diet of the lactating goat. 



^Report on the Present Knowledge Concemmg Accessory Food Factors (Vitamins), 1919. 

 Medical Kesearcli Committee, chapter ii. 



