EXPERIMENTAL RICKETS

Abstract

SummaryDuring the investigations regarding experimental rickets it was found that:1)Owing to the lack of both Vitamin C and D in the dietthere is a negative phosphorus balance and a weak positive calcium balance turning negative.2) When Vitamin C only is lacking in the diet the calcium balance is poorer than with the addition of lemon juice.It is therefore not improbable that when dogs. at an early stage are put on a diet lacking Vitamin C they can be afflicted by scurvy or by a scurvy‐like condition, a disease in dogs where the changes undergone in metabolism have not hitherto been investigated.Cod‐liver oil cures experimental rickets very rapidly, both chemically and clinically. The negative or weak positive balances quickly become strongly positive.3) When Vitamin D is lacking in the diet:a) thus a form of rickets proper in dogs, a positive phosphorus balance and a negative calcium balance is found.b) Na2HPO4 added extra to the diet gives rise to clinically worse rickets but to a better phosphorus balance and parallel calcium balance than without the addition.c) Calcium lactate added extra to the diet gives rise to a clinically lesser pronounced rickets, with stronger calcium and phosphorus balances. Moreover, there is a greater calcium content in the bones.d) A salt mixture of Ca3(PO4)2, and CaCO3 (relationship 840:95) brings about greater calcium and phosphorus balances than without the addition of the salt mixture.e) Wheat‐flour, compared with oatmeal, produces clinically severer rickets, weaker phosphorus and magnesium balances but a stronger calcium balance.f) According to the balances of the elements concerned, the amount of calcium and inorganic phosphorus in the serum is lowered, in some cases very considerably.4) The magnesium balance is independent of both the calcium and phosphorus balances.5) The best balance of an element gives as a rule the greatest content of that element in the bones.6) On a diet which is extremely insufficient for a growing organism, oatmeal only, a diet deficient in Vitamin D and in Nitrogen in particular, a much stronger rickets is produced with negative calcium, phosphorus and magnesium balances.