VITAMINS AND THEIR USES 123 



shows that Vitamm A, sckible in fats, is abundantly found in milk, 

 egg yolk, and butter, and in lesser amounts in certain vegetables. 

 Vitamin B, soluble in water, is found in the outer layers of many 

 cereals, and in eggs, fresh yeast, and many other fresh foods. 

 Vitamin C is found in many fresh vegetables and fruits. Vitamin 

 D is fat soluble and is found in cod liver oil, milk, and coconuts. 

 Vitamin E is found in wheat and other cereals. Vitamins appear 

 to be largely of plant origin and in many cases are destroyed or at 

 least their value to the body is lessened by heat, although some 

 stand high temperatures, as in canned tomatoes or boiled potatoes. 

 So much for what they are. Now what do they do? It has 

 been known for a good many years that explorers deprived of fresh 



Pigeon that has animal beriberi. Same pigeon three hours after eating 



Vitamin B. 



A pigeon fed on polished rice develops the disease known as animal beriberi 

 (polyneuritis) ; when fed material containing Vitamin B it is soon cured. This 

 experiment was first described by Casimir Funk, who gave the name " vitamines " 

 to these substances. 



food suffer from the disease called scurvy. This deficiency disease 

 has been found to be caused by a lack of Vitamin C. Experi- 

 ments carried on in the Japanese navy about 1890 showed that 

 beriberi, a serious menace to health among oriental peoples, is 

 caused by a lack of nutrients not present in the rice and fish which 

 form the major part of their dietary. Later experiments showed 

 that the lack of Vitamin B causes beriberi. An eye disease called 

 xeropthalmia is caused by a lack of Vitamin A. Recent experiments 

 seem to indicate that rickets, a disease of children, '' characterized 

 by impaired nutrition and alterations in the growing bones," is 

 caused by a lack of Vitamin D. Lack of Vitamin E appears to 

 cause sterility in animals. 



