Effect of Viosterol on Excretion of Lead.

Abstract

It is well known that large doses of viosterol cause a hypercalcemia and increased elimination of calcium from the body and good evidence is accumulating to the effect that the source of the excess of the calcium under such conditions is from the bone, at least when the diet is calcium poor.1, 2, 3 Since Aub4 has shown that the metabolism of lead parallels the metabolism of calcium, large doses of viosterol should promote the elimination of lead from the body. Experiments to determine the effect of large doses of viosterol on lead excretion in cats and guinea pigs and on lead storage, and the course of lead poisoning in guinea pigs were carried out. Throughout the series Viosterol Squibb 250D was used. All assays for lead were made by the Fairhall method. The guinea pigs were kept on a normal diet of oats, hay, cabbage, or lettuce. The cats were given low calcium diets consisting of meat and fish or vegetables. Viosterol dosage in the 2 cat experiments was 20 drops daily and in the case of the guinea pigs...