AN ANTIANEMIC FACTOR IN DESICCATED STOMACH

Abstract

Liver and liver extracts have proved to be specific in the treatment of pernicious anemia. The question of why they are effective cannot be answered. Tashiro¹believes that an impaired liver function actuates primary anemia. Meinertz²regards the spleen as the cause of hemolysis with a coincident subnormal liver function in caring for the toxic products of amino-acid oxidation. Eleven years ago Mosenthal³raised the point that protein destruction plays a considerable rôle in the etiology of pernicious anemia. Means and Richardson⁴express the view that there is a shortage of a specific substance clearly responsible for the abnormalities in the bone marrow and the blood. Koessler⁵and his co-workers have produced experimental anemia in animals with a blood picture similar to that of pernicious anemia by a diet deficient in vitamin A. They followed up this observation in human cases of the disease by