Vitamin A as an anti-infective agent : its use in the treatment of puerperal septicaemia / by E. Mellanby and H.N. Green.

  • Mellanby, Edward, Sir, 1884-1955.
Date:
[1929?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Vitamin A as an anti-infective agent : its use in the treatment of puerperal septicaemia / by E. Mellanby and H.N. Green. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    8/8 (page 8)
    same increase in bodily resistance would be found in many other types of infection. M^e think it desirable that clinical trials should be made in other bacterial infections. It is probable that the dosage of vitamin A and the mode of administration we have used can be improved upon by further trial. Finally, if vitamin A should prove to have anti- infective qualities of a curative nature, as this work suggests, it must also be of inestimable value in its prophylactic effect. Indeed, it is possibly essential for the natural defence of the body against infective agencies, and, if so, it is incumbent to see that the body under all conditions, but especially in times of special stress, as in pregnancy, should receive an adequate and large supply of this substance by the inclusion in the diet of natural foods which contain it. Such foods include egg- yolk, green vegetables, milk, butter, and cheese. Cod-liver oil also contains vitamin A in abundance. Summary. On the basis of animal experiments which indicated that vitamin A is an anti-infective agent, we have treated five cases of puerperal septicaemia from whose blood haemolytic streptococci were grown, with preparations rich in vitamin A. All made complete recoveries, thus indicating that vitamin A, when given therapeutically, can raise the resistance of the human body against septic and infective micro-organisms. The cases described were under the care of Mr. King, Mr. Chisholm, and Mr. Stacey, members of the honorary staff of the Jessop Hospital, Sheffield, and to them we wish to express our indebtedness. We wish also to thank Professor Miles Phillips for his interest in the work, and Miss Moore, the resident house-surgeon. The investigation was carried out with the assistance of the Medical Research Council. References. 1 H. N. Green and E. Mellanbv : British Medical Journal, 1928, ii, 691. 2 Tyson and Smith : Amer. Journ. of Path., 1929, 5, 57. 3 Carr and Price: Biochem. Journ., 1926, 20, 497.