VITAMIN A.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 30, 6 February 1928, Page 7

VITAMIN A.

ARTIFICIAL MAKE. Possibilities Of New Zealand Liver Fat. EMPIRE RESEARCH. ißy Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 10.P.0 LONDON, February o. Following the steady progress of linking research organisations in Britain with those in the Dominions and India, the Medical Research Council last year extended this process to the colonies, protectorates and mandated territories. It is hoped the result will be a veritable Imperial research service. Commenting on this aspect, the council in it» annual report, points out that there is probably more tuberculosis and measles in the tropics than in England. Those diseases are perhaps better studied overseas than at Home just as the control of purely tropical disease may spring from clues discovered at Home. A northern laboratory becomes I more clearly necessary every year.

Medical scicnce is one and indivisible, whether in temperate or tropical climates, consequently research should be done wherever there is the best opportunity.

In response to a request from the Empire Marketing Board, which is financing the work for live years, the council has arranged for a comprehensive investigation under the general direction of Professor Harden of Lister Institute, into the vitamin content of fruit, vegetables and dairy products, and the effects on the different methods of preservation and transport thereof.

The council at length reviews the progress towards artificial vitamin production and points out that the national needs of vitamin A can be met from liver fat utilised with butter and margarine. In other ways the Home supply could be readily supplemented if necessary from Empire produce.

It has been found that vitamin content of fat from imported New Zealand liver is the same as from the liver of the Home-killed animals.— (A. and N.Z. and Sydney "Sun.")

Professor Arthur Harden, D.Sc., has an interest for New Zealanders in that he married Miss Georgina S. Bridge, daughter of Mr. C. Wynyard Bridge, of Christchurch. Professor Harden is head of the Biochemical Department of the Lister Institute.