(1) The weight of the organs of the cocks, fed on a diet free from vitamin “B”, decreases with the weight of the bodies.
The grade of decrease varies with each of the organs, this being most eclatant in testicles and spleen. Though the weight of pancreas and kidney decreases in absolute amount, its ratio to the body weight increases rather a little.
(2) The increase and decrease of the amount of lecithin, cholesterol and total fatty acid in the organs, in the case of vitamine “B” free diet, varies with each of the organs. Gener-ally, however, the amount of lecithin decreases, while that of cholesterol and total fatty acid increases. The grade of increase or decrease among the organs is shown in the following orders.
lecithin ……… kidney, pancreas, heart, liver, spleen, muscle, lung.
cholesterol …… pancreas, testicle, kidney, heart, lung.
total fatty acid … testicle, spleen, pancreas, liver, kidney, heart, lung, muscle.
(3) The amount of lecithin in the blood of the cocks, which are fed on a vitamine “B” free diet, decreases more than that of the control cocks. The amount of cholesterol and total fatty acid in the blood increases, however, more than that of the control.
This work was performed in the Peking Union Medical College, during the winter of 1923-1924, soon after the disastrous earthquake at Tokio. The author wishes to express his gratitude to the Rockefeller Foundation for their generous offer to enabling him to finish his work.
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