The Influence of Cod-Liver Oil, Linseed Oil and Olive Oil on the Assimilation of Calcium and Phosphorus in the Growing Pig

THE literature of rickets contains, many references to the use of fats and oils, especially cod-liver oil, as therapeutic agents.Gobley [1844] reported the successful use of ray's liver oil.Roloff [1866] advocated the use of oil- rich foods for the prevention of osteomalacia in farm animals.Kassowitz [1884, 1913] used cod-liver oil, and also other oils, as a vehicle for the ad- ministration of phosphorus.He did not however consider cod-liver oil of any special value per se, and notes that, in some cases, the administration of the oil alone had no beneficial action in curing rickets.Schabad [1909], Birk [1909], Meyer [1913] and others have found that the administration of phosphorus in cod-liver oil increased the retention of calcium and phosphorus.On the other hand, Flieger [1897] showed that, in some cases at least, the phosphorised oil was ineffectual as a cure for rickets,