Stanley Davidson

Gastrointestinal intolerance to oral iron preparations.

preparations (ferrous chloride, ferrous carbonate, iron and ammonium citrate, colloidal iron) and it had a considerable advantage in cost and convenience (Davidson and Fullerton 1938). During the past ten years a number oj organic iron preparations have appeared on the market, and have been widely used. It is therefore desirable tc re-examine the question of which oral preparation of iron is the most suitable for the treatment of anaemia, in both pregnant and non-pregnant patients. O’Sullivan et al. (1955) compared three of the mosi popular preparations-ferrous sulphate, ferrous gluconate, and ferrous succinate. They gave the three compounds, in doses containing equal amounts of elemental iron (21C mg. daily) to matched groups of patients, and found similar rises in haemoglobin level. Few other comparisons between iron compounds have been made with the same

The Value of Liver Extracts

would have been alike an asset to the profession and to the House of Commons itself. The past and passing generation of medical men are generally aware of this, but it is likely that the younger generation are completely ignorant of the efforts which have brought them a heritage of a better professional life than that extant thirty years ago, and it is probably the younger generation which has swayed this election. It is not only on questions of intrinsic interest to the profession-national health insurance. hospitals, organization of public health services-that medical influence should be exercised in Parliament, but the great problem of number and quality of the population now looming in the near distance, involving such human biological problems as sterilization of the unfit, birth control, reform of the abortion laws, and maternal mortality, will need adequate medical representation if legislation is to be effective and just. Again, there have been repeated attempts to foist an absurd system of medicine into official recognition, and it was chiefly due to Sir Henrys evidence before the committee of inquiry that the last attempt failed completely. It is said that public memories are notoriously short, but surely this shallow-pated amnesia should not inflict the medical profession.-I am. etc.,