Hemoglobin Regeneration in the Chronic Hemorrhagic Anemia of Dogs (Whipple)

Abstract

The evaluation of the potency of a large variety of materials for hemoglobin regeneration in the chronic hemorrhagic anemia of dogs by Whipple and his associates (1) has stimulated further investigation of this condition. The less startling effect of liver feeding in the various types of human secondary anemia (2) raises an interesting question concerning the metabolism of iron and hemoglobin. Why, for example, is liver more effective in these anemic dogs than inorganic iron?An analysis of the daily intake of calories, protein, iron and copper in the diets of 60 representative protocols taken from the publications of the Rochester laboratory, shows for the fruits, vegetables and dairy products, a close correlation between hemoglobin regeneration and the amount of iron ingested when the factor of the availability of these forms of food iron stressed by Elvehjem and his associates (3) is considered. With the glandular, however, and, to a less extent, the muscular foods other factors besides their iron content and its availability to the animal appear to be operating. Perhaps the chronic hemorrhage, in the removal of large amounts of blood constituents other than hemoglobin, and the unfavorable diet used in developing a slowly and constantly regenerating anemia, lead to a deficiency of materials besides iron involved directly or indirectly with hemoglobin formation. In such multiple deficiencies the addition of one of the materials which is lacking causes improvement in the animal's condition. This phenomenon may be considered as a type of mass action effect illustrated by the relationship of copper 457 on