suggested that we drop the terminal "e" in Vitamine, since the ending
"ine" has a chemical significance which is to date not justified as a
termination for the name of the unidentified dietary factors. This
suggestion has been generally adopted by research workers and the spelling
now in use is _Vitamin_ A, B, or C. It has hardly seemed worth while
to derange the entire set up of the present text to make this correction
and we have retained the form in use at the time the manuscript was first
set up. The suggestion of Drummond, however, is sound and will undoubtedly
be generally adopted by the research workers in the subject.

Attempt has been made to cover all the important contributions up to
April, 1921. Opportunity has permitted the inclusion of certain data of
still later date and undoubtedly other important papers of earlier date
will have been overlooked.

It is a pleasure to acknowledge the assistance received in the preparation
of the manuscript from Dr. H. C. Sherman, Dr. Mary S. Rose and Dr. Victor
La Mer. Their suggestions have been most valuable and greatly appreciated.

WALTER H. EDDY.

_Department of Physiological Chemistry, Teachers College, Columbia
University, New York City, April, 1921_



CHAPTER I


HOW VITAMINES WERE DISCOVERED