THE ANTIRACHITIC INFLUENCE OF EGG YOLK

Abstract

It is a recognized fact that active rickets is relatively uncommon after the second year. This has been attributed by many to the more liberal diet that children receive at this period of life. Exactly what particular foodstuff is responsible for the antirachitic effect has not been determined. Still¹says, "Next to milk I know of no food which is of more value in the prevention of rickets and in the cure of it than yolk of egg." The same author, however, says further, "There seems to be no specific virtue in cod liver oil; any other oil will do equally well." Doubtless other people have used egg for the same purpose. No objective evidence of the value of any one of the ordinary foodstuffs in curing rickets in children has ever been presented. Mellanby²was the first to show that a dog made rachitic by diet can