Experimental rickets / by Edward Mellanby.

  • Edward Mellanby
Date:
1921
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Experimental rickets / by Edward Mellanby. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Of these puppies 185 and 186 were killed by the anaesthetic when the X-ray photographs were taken, and 188 died of intestinal obstruction. 185, 186, 187, and 188 developed rickets at an early age, Kadiographs of 186 and 187 were taken seven weeks, 189 and 190 ten weeks after the beginning of the experiment (Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10). It will be seen that 190 is normal and that 186 and 187 are distinctly rachitic, 186 (linseed) being worse than 187 (cotton-seed), and 187 (cotton-seed) worse than 189 (pea-nut). 188, the babassu oil dog, also developed severe rickets, but the radiograph of this puppy has been mislaid. The only puppies that lived any length of time are 187 (cotton-seed), 189 (pea-nut) and 190 (cod-liver oil). As regards the anti-rachitic action of the fats, the radiographs indicate the following order : 1. Cod-liver oil. 2. Pea-nut oil. 8. Cotton-seed oil. 4. Linseed oil. 5. Babassu oil. Weight (after 7 weeks of diet). 185 2,500 grm. Olive oil. 186 2,470 >> Linseed oil. 187 2,290 >) Cotton-seed oil. 188 1,725 Babassu oil. 189 2,190 Pea-nut oil. 190 8,150 Cod-liver oil. Here again the cod-liver oil puppy (190) has grown most rapidly, but even in the case of the vegetable oils, which are supposed to contain no Fat-soluble A, good growth is evident. As regards those puppies in this series whose life extended over a larger time, viz. 187, 189, and 190, it may be said that the cod-liver oil (190) remained normal throughout the experimental period, cotton seed (187) died at the end of 17 weeks having definite rickets, pea-nut oil (189) also showed slight signs of rickets in the subsequent radiographs that were taken, but these disappeared with the development of curative changes, and the dog remained in external appearance almost normal throughout. The deductions to be made from this series of experiments, which it will be observed has been divided up into two portions, are that cod-liver oil stands by itself in its anti-rachitic action, and that of the vegetable oils, pea-nut oil is the best, cotton-seed oil next, and olive oil, babassu, and linseed oil are the worst. The results are in agree¬ ment throughout whether radiographs, histological appearances, or calcium content of the bones are taken as the measure of the development of the disease. The superiority of cod-liver oil over all other fats tried in promoting calcification of bone is in harmony with the earlier observed fact that it holds a pre-eminent position in its power to convert a metabolic negative calcium balance into a positive one. (Orgler (86), Schabad (87).)
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