A Study of the Water-Soluble Accessory Growth Promoting Substance. II. Its influence upon the Nutrition, and Nitrogen Metabolism of the Rat

Abstract

IN a previous communication it was shown that certain properties of the water-soluble accessory substance are similar to those which are associated with the so-called "anti-neuritic vitamine " This fact, taken into consideration with the observation of McCollum and Kennedy [1916] that many extracts known to contain the water-soluble growth factor are active in the prevention or cure of polyneuritis in birds, led to the suggestion being advanced that the two substances are identical. If this view is correct, it cannot but be apparent from recent research how very important a role is played by this dietary factor in the nutrition of the animal organism. The present paper presents a series of observations bearing more or less directly upon this subject, and although they do not represent the results of a systematic research, they have been collected together in the hope that they may assist in throwing light upon certain aspects of the question.