Influence of Arsenic, Ferrous Sulphate and Copper Sulphate on Rats Furnished A Vitamin A-Free Diet with Iron Added.

Abstract

In order to ascertain the extent to which minerals may act as catalyzers and replace the so-called “vitamins”, we have been performing experiments with a number of chemicals added in minute doses to the food of experimental rats, showing unmistakable signs of avitaminosis. Our experiments with iron and iodine1 having proved successful, it was deemed wise to try preliminary experiments in which copper was exhibited in the presence of iron and arsenic. In a series of experiments with 15 negative control and 8 positive control rats, 6 other animals were placed on a diet that included ferrous sulphate, iron iodide, arsenic and copper sulphate added to the Sherman A-free diet No. 380.FIRST LOT: 2 male animals received daily 1 drop of a solution of copper sulphate, such that it added to their food 0.01 mgm. of copper. They received 1 drop of ferrous sulphate solution containing 0.5 mgm. of iron and 0.01 mgm. of ergosterol, which had been irradiated together with a small quantity of the Sherman diet No. 380. The...