370 



Scientific Proceedings (131) 



good, and their bones were found to be exceptionally well calci- 

 fied. The addition of white of egg, on the other hand, increased 

 rather than prevented the development of rickets. 



Curative experiments likewise were carried out on rats. In 

 these tests rickets was induced by the above diet, or by the 5 

 per cent, dry milk diet, and later supplemented by 1.0 or 0.5 g. 

 of yolk of egg. After a period of 8 days calcification could be 

 noted in radiographs. The inorganic phosphate of the blood 

 also was higher than in the control rats which had not received 

 the supplementary food. 



Similar prophylactic and curative treatment were employed 

 on infants. Table II summarizes the preventive treatment in 



TABLE II. PROPHYLACTIC TREATMENT OF INFANTS WITH 



EGG YOLK 











Rackets 



Rickets 









Age 



Weight 



Egg yolk 



X-ray 



Clinical 



P. 



Ca 



Case 



(mos.) 



(lbs.) 



begun 



(March) 



(March) 



(Feb. and Mar.) 



1 



12 



19y 2 



12-14-22 



neg. 



neg. 



3.8 



11.0 



2 



10 



18 



1-16-23 



neg. 



neg. 



3.7 



12.4 



3 



14 



20% 



1- 3-23 



neg. 



neg. 



4.6 



10.8 



4 



11 



18 



12-24-22 



neg. 



neg. 



3.9 



12.0 



5 



ey 2 



i6 y 2 



12-22-22 



neg. 



neg. 



4.5 





6 



6% 



12% 



12-14-22 



neg. 



neg. 



4.5 



11.2 



7 



12 y 2 



16% 



12-14-22 



neg. 



neg. 



4.1 



11.8 



8 



10 



17 



12-14-22 



neg. 



neg. 



4.3 



12.0 



9 



12 



171/4 



12-14-22 



neg. 



neg. 



4.0 



12.0 



10 



13% 



18% 



12-14-22 



neg. 



neg. 



4.0 





11 



10 



15% 



1- 8^23 



neg. 



neg. 



4.3 





12 



13 



25 



12-20-22 



neg. 



neg. 



4.0 



11.4 



twelve cases. It shows that rickets did not develop in any in- 

 stance, and that the percentage of inorganic phosphate in the 

 blood during February and March was maintained at the high 

 level characteristic of the summer months. Curative treatment 

 was found to be of value, but less potent than cod liver oil. 



It is concluded that egg yolks possesses marked anti-rachitic 

 properties for animals and for infants, far more than any other 

 natural food stuff. It is very well tolerated and can be recom- 

 mended as a supplement to the dietary of even very young in- 

 fants, much as orange juice is used to protect against scurvy. 

 The yolk has also curative value but definitely less than cod 

 liver oil. 



