The Influence of Iodide of Iron on Rats Receiving a Vitamin A-Free Diet.

Abstract

In 1925, the senior author, who had been keenly interested in the endocrine glands since 1912, was struck by the fact that several medical writers had shown that thyroid extract was beneficial in cataract and certain other eye diseases involving keratization. Accordingly, he began experimenting with rats depleted of Vitamin A, using various iodin compounds.Among the interesting discoveries was the fact that on a normal diet tiny quantities of iodin would induce greater growth. Subsequent studies carried on with various associates seemed to indicate quite definitely that xerophthalmia and other symptoms of Vitamin A deficiency would yield to iodin treatment, and the most effective combination proved to be with extremely small doses of ferrous iodide.1Our studies of the efficiency of ferrous iodide have been carried on during 1929 and 1930, and we are convinced that the action of iodin is largely responsible for the prevention and cure of xerophthalmia, in our rats. But as the present findings indicate, the...