Chemistry of the Blood in Scurvy. 



43 



26 (1401) 

 Chemistry of the blood in scurvy. 

 By Alfred F. Hess and John A. Killian. 



[From the Bureau of Laboratories, Department of Health, New York 



City] 



The urea content, CO2 combining power, percentage of sugar, 

 diastatic activity and calcium content of the blood were ascer- 

 tained in a number of cases of infantile scurvy. Two abnormal 

 variations were found: (a) a moderate acidosis, figures under 40 

 or 45 obtained according to the Van Slyke method; (b) a deficiency 

 of calcium. Neither appeared to be a basic factor or to run a 

 course parallel to the scorbutic process. 





Date. 



Ca. 



(Mg. per 100 C-c ) 



Notes. 



I 



May 23 



3 04 



No tetany. 



2 



" 14 



6.9 







23 



6.8 



Marked rickets. 



3 



" 22 



7.2 







June 4 



11.4 



Prune Juice (15 c.c.) for 12 days. 



4 



May 22 



5-5 



Cod Liver Oil for 13 months. 



5 



" 22 



3-2 







June 4 



8.4 



Banana for 12 days. 



6 



" 22 



4-5 



Lactose 8 days. 





" 4 



11. 0 



" 20 days. 



7 



Nov. 19 



5-2 



Moderate rickets. 





" 26 



5-6 





The accompanying chart shows the results of calcium tests 

 carried out according to the Halverson and Bergeim deproteiniza- 

 tion method with 5 c.c. or more of plasma. The normal content 

 is about 10 mg., so that it will be seen that there was a striking 

 calcium deficiency. None of the cases had convulsions; nor can 

 the results be accounted for by the presence of tetany. 



