Evening star., 1942-04-30
Of Stors, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Laboratory, Field
And Study
By Thomas r. Henry.

And Study
By Thomas r. Henry.
A new vitamin disease. due to lack in
the diet of a few millionths of gram
of the most potent biological substance
known to science, has been produced ex-
perimentally at the University of
Georgia.
The substance is biotin, most recently
isolated of the B complex of vitamins,
the best sources of which in nature are
black strap molasses and egg yolks. Up
to few months ago there was less than
a gram of It In the world.
1t has been known for some years
that when rats and chickens were fed
excessive amounts Of the white of eggs
they developed a serious skin disease
which could be prevented or cured by
incredibly minute amounts Of this vita
min. Biologists have suspected that such
a potent substance existing in normal
foods must play a part In human nu-
triton but it has been difficult to ar
range experiments to determine this.
Normally a person does not eat large
quantities of egg white.
The University of Georgia experiments,
carried out in cooperation with the
United States Public Health Service,
have Just been reported to the Ameri-
can Medical Association by Drs. v. P.
Sydenstricker, S. A. Singal. A. P. Briggs,
N. M. De Vaughn and Harris Isbell. They
placed three white men and colored
woman on a diet which contained all
the necessary food elements and sum-
cient amounts of all the vitamins ex-
cept biotl.l. To this diet was added about
six ounces q day Of egg white.
Nothing happened until the fourth
week. Then all the subjects developed
a fine skin eruption which disappeared
spontaneously in few days. But during
the seventh and eighth weeks very
marked changes began. Most notable in
bft WilitC was StiihAiS ki ds 1911
pallor of the skin. All were victims Of a
mild depression which developed rapidly
into extreme lassitude and sleepiness.
One had hallucinations and two strange
feeling of panic for which they could
not account They began to complain Of
pains all over the body. All food be-
came disgusting to them. Whenever they
tried to eat they felt extreme nausea.
The symptoms, the doctors report. were
quite similar to those caused by an ex-
treme deficiency of vitamin B-l, although
there was an abundance Of this material
in the diets.
Then they were given almost micro
scope amounts of biotin. Within four
days the skin returned to its normal
color The depression and hallucins-
tions disappeared. There was a quick
return of the appetite to normal or above,
The experiments were conducted In an
effort to find what part biotin actually
plays in human nutrition. 1t is unlikely
that the malady actually would occur
spontaneously since not only defi-
cheney of biotin but an excess OF egg
white is necessary to produce it. The
part of egg white. however. may be
played by some as yet unknown sub
stance In other foods and lack Of biotin
probably Is characteristic of the aver
age diet.
The present American Army Is In the
best physical condition Of any fighting
force In the history of the world.
A very large proportion OF those who
have been rejected because of physical
defects would be accepted without ques-
tion by any army Of continental Europe
Most of the reasons for rejection 'of
large numbers have little to do with the
general health.
Although the rate Of reflections is
somewhat larger than during the First
World War there is some evidence that
the men are healthier.
Such are the conclusions of DR.. Leon
ard T. Rowntree, chief of the medical
division of the selective service system,
after an exhaustive study of the records
Of approximately 10000 registrants, a
fair cross section of those from all sec
tions of the country.
Men of service age, these records show,
average about $50 pounds in weight The
average for those drafted In the First
World War was 142 pounds. The aver
age height has remained exactly the
same, 67ia inches. The average chest
measurement with forced expiration for
registrants today is 339-10 inches-a
gain of four -tenths OF an inch over the
First World War
Curiously enough, DR.. Rowntree finds.
the average height was exactly the same
for Northern soldiers in the Civil War
Average weight was 1876 pounds and the
average chest dimension 1917 inches.
The marked weight difference, how
ever, may be due to some extent to the
fact that men between 81 and SO have
been included in the present draft, while
they were not obliged to register for the
first draft In 1917. A large number of
young boys were included among Civil
War volunteers. A man over 30 tends
to put on weight rapidly.
Perhaps the most notable finding of
DR.. Rowntree's study, just reported to the
American Medical Association, Is the
rapidity with which defects that dis
qualify for military service mount after
the early 20's. The average man of %
has approximately a tenfold better