Studies on the influence of diet on resistance to infection I. The effect of various diets on the fertility, growth, and survival of mice

Abstract

The observations described in this paper were carried out as a preliminary to a systematic study of the influence of dietetic factors on resistance to infection. The enquiry was initiated under the general direction of Prof. W. W. C. Topley of this School, and Prof. E. P. Cathcart of the University of Glasgow, and has been financed by a grant from the Medical Research Council. It was desired that all aspects of the problem, dietetic, immunological and statistical, should receive full and careful consideration at each stage of the investigation, and that any significant results, positive or negative, should be checked and controlled on a scale that would supply a firm foundation for further studies. To this end, a small advisory committee was formed, soon after the enquiry started, on which Prof. M. Greenwood, Prof. J. C. Drummond, Prof. Edward Mellanby, Dr Harriette Chick, Dr Bradford Hill and Dr Joyce Wilson kindly consented to serve. To all the above, I wish to express my thanks for help and advice. I wish also to acknowledge my indebtedness to Miss J. M. Hatswell for her assistance throughout the greater part of this work.