Sodium Citrate and Scurvy. 



141 



The incidence of scurvy in the latter series was 88.9 per cent, and 

 in the control series, 25 per cent. The results of the control 

 series are not in accordance with those of Chick, Hume and Skelton 

 who state that guinea pigs receiving less than 50 c.c. milk per 

 day invariably develop scurvy but indicate that with Inspected 

 Milk used in this laboratory the lower limit is about 32 c.c. The 

 average intake in the two series reported was approximately the 

 same. 



A series of electrometric determinations performed through 

 the eourtesy of Dr. E. C. Dickson showed the following changes 

 in fresh Inspected Milk when sodium citrate in varying amounts 

 was added : 



Fresh milk pH 6.45 



0.25 per cent, sodium citrate added 6.50 



0.50 per cent. M " 6.95 



1. 0 per cent. " " 7.05 



1.25 per cent. " " 7-*5 



2.0 per cent. " " 7.35 



The results of these experiments indicate that sodium citrate 

 even in concentrations of 0.25 per cent diminishes or destroys 

 the anti-scorbutic substance normally present in small amounts 

 in raw cow's milk. 



