K. RAGHAVACHARI 139
(1) Whereas in the rest of the bitches living
under identical conditions, the off-spring, with
two exceptions, were apparently normal, only in
the case of bitch No. 60 were the pups observed
to suffer from rapidly progressive rickets. In this
connection the breeding records of the kennel
during the period may be consulted (Table IV).
At first, it appeared that dog 74, with a deformity
in one leg, possibly rachitic in origin, was the
cause. But when the mating of this dog with
another bitch (No. 10) usually resulted in normal
off-spring, this belief appeared to be incorrect.
(2) The change of sire in the case of bitch 60
did not improve matters, as in the two subsequent
whelpings the pups were rachitic. It, therefore,
appeared likely that the malady originated with
bitch No. 60, and that there was some hereditary
or predisposing cause other than what can be
explained on usually accepted theories. Accord-
ing to Ellis and McLeod [1923], heredity appears
to have no direct connection with rickets, although
Siegert [1903, 1905] believes that the incidence of
the disease in breastfed children may be accounted
for on this ground. Korenchevsky [1923] made
interesting observations on two infants in Vienna.
The first was born in July of a healthy mother,
and the second during the following month of a
mother suffering from osteomalacia. The mother
of the first acted as a foster-mother to the second
child from a few days after its birth. Both
children were brought up under identical condi-
tions. By the middle of December, severe rickets
was observed in the child of the mother who had
suffered from osteomalacia. The baby from the
healthy mother was in good condition. It was
concluded, both from human experience and
animal experimentation, that the young born of a
mother whose vitality is depleted may be predis-
posed to rickets.
Maxwell and Miles [1925]
also noticed rickets in infants born of mothers
suffering from osteomalacia.
It was unfortunate that critical studies could not
be undertaken to establish the existence of
osteomalacia in bitch No. 60, though the analysis
of her serum which was low in inorganic phosphorus
(Table III) indicated a predisposition and a border
line condition of nutritional instability [Howland
& Kramer, 1922]. It may be pointed that the low
figures for serum phosphorus, which were obtained
when the animal was not pregnant or lactating,
would be probably further reduced by the drain
of pregnancy and lactation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks are due to Mr P. C. Banerji, G.B.V.C.,
for his interest, to Dr F. C. Minett and to Dr N. D.
Kehar for assistance with this article and to the
latter for the analysis of blood sera and of bones.
REFERENCES
Adams, G. McCollum, E. V. (1928). J. Biol. Chem. 78
495
Dukes, H. H. (1937). The Physiology of Domestic Animals.
Bailliere, Tindall & Cox, London
Ellis C. & McLeod, A. L. (1923). Vital factors of fooas,
vitamins and nutrition. Chapman & Hall, London
Hawk, P. B. & Bergeim, O. (1931). Pract. Physiol.
Chem. Blackiston & Sons, Phila delphia
Howland, J. & Kramer, B. (1922). Trans. Amer. Pediat.
Soc. 34, 204
Korenchevsky, V. (1923). J. Path. & Bact. 26, 382
Loll, W. (1923). Biochem. Zeit. 135, 493
Maxwell, J. P. & Miles, L. M. (1925). J. Obstel. & Gynae-
cology 32, 433
McCrudden, F. H. (1910). J. Biol. Chem. 7, 199
Mellanby, E. (1921). Experimental rickets, Med. Res.
Coun. Sp. Rep. Ser. No. 61, 20, 47
Meysenbug, L. & M'Cann, G. F. (1921). J. Biol. Chem.,
47, 541
Siegert, F. (1903-1905). Cited by E. A. Park (1923).
Physiol Rev. 3, 106 (original not seen)
Steenbock, H., Sell, M. T. & Jones, J. H. (1923). J.
Biol. Chem. 56, 345
Steenbock, H. & Black, A. (1924). J. Biol. Chem. 61,
405
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TABLE I
Breeding history of Bitch 60
Mated
with
dog
No.
74
38
38
38
38
38
Date of
litter
Feb. 36
12-11-36
8-11-37
25-11-39
1-3-41
27-11-41
Number and condition
of progcny
Four. Developed rickets
Four. Developed rickets
Five. One died early,
one normal and three
developed rickets, of
which one (a) died later,
(b) and (c) surviving.
Three Remained normal
Two. One normal, other
mild rickets.
Four. One died early,
one normal and two
developed rickets.
Remarks
No cod liver oil
given to bitch.
Do.
No cod liver oil
given to
bitch.
Cod liver oil given
to pups (b) & (c),
(a) acting as con-
trol.
Pup (b)
improved in con-
dition.
Pup (c)
improved
later
when given calci-
um also.
Cod liver oil given
to bitch during
and after pregnan-
cy. Two genera-
tions of pups, all
normal, were ob-
tained from one
of the three bitch-
es born Nov. 39.
No cod liver oil
given to bitch.
Do.