The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-03-18

MYSTERIOUS NO. 7

MYSTERIOUS NO..
Detectives Of science are on the
trail OF a mysterious seventh mem.
Der OF the distinguished B. fam
lily OF yitamins which, they
capture it-may become an ally
OF man against arterio sclerosis,
the nations No. 9 killer.
Its probable existence. previous
ly unsupported has been deduced-
much as astronomers in the past
have deduced the existence Of
new planets. But thus far mo.
Z" has eluded all attempts at pos
tive Identification.
The still nameless vitamin has
manifested itself to date only IN
a negative and ghostly fashion;
its existence might never have
been surmised had not science
stumbled upon evidence that it
was missing from B-family
conclaye in the digestive systems
OF some rats.
What role, if any. it will play in
the war against arterio sclerosis
hardening Of the arteries-re-
mains to be seen when, and if it
is shared.
That there might be a seventh
member OF the b" group Of vita
Minis was first suspected when
research workers at the Univer-
sity OF Wisconsin discovered that
young rats in one OF their inves-
legations were not growing normal
ly. The rats were subsisting on
foods containing all the six known
p vitamins thiamin. pyridoxine.
ribotlavin. NICOTINE acid, panto-
thenic acid and choline-plus other
vitamins necessary to rat growth.
In addition, they had been given
small amounts Of sulfaguanidine
Il new drug which inhibits activity
OF bacteria normally present in the
intestines
When the rats failed 10 thrive.
despite their rich yitamin diet, the
research workers deduced that
some vital food substance unknown
10 them was lacking By elm
ination. they arrived al the infer
ence that it must be hitherto
unidentified member Of the B fam
fly
The sulfaguanidine, u appeared,
had robbed the rats intestinal bac-
terra Of their power-preyiously
established in the case Of vitamin
K-to manufacture special food
substances out Of other materials
a. their disposal
such synthesization Of yitamins
has long been known 10 science.
Cows and other ruminants. for ex.
ample, are expert az producing
many Of the more familiar vita
Minis in their digestive tracts
II vas not until the L. s. pub
lie health service took UP the trail
OF the missing vitamin that a pos
sible connection was noted be
tween tor the lack Of it-and
arterio sclerosis The seven
young rats used in the research be-
gan 10 develop hyaline sclerosis.
a strange form Of arterio sclerosis
in which the walls OF blood yes
sells are slowly replaced by a sub
stance strikingly like glass
Hardening OF the arteries kills
some 22700 Americans each year,
ranking in the list OF life destroy
ers Just under the automobile. II
it could be proved that the rats
Rffliction was a deficiency dis
ease, caused by lack Of the myster-
ious No. Z, then the way would be
open for research which might
produce a vitamin preventative.
But at this point scientists are
puzzled. They are not certain
whether the hyaline sclerosis is
caused by a yitsmin deficiency or
whether It was induced by the
sulfaguanidine. Their next step
is TO find out. And when they
do find out there Will be thousands
10 applaud and TO welcome the
relief that may be brought by the
now mysterious Number Seven.