During the last two years, the use of insulin in various degrees of malnutrition in infancy has been studied with increasing interest and with varying results. Viewing their own work with a critical eye, all authors are not agreed as to the value of this procedure.
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
Pitfield1 was the first to work with insulin in infants. He tried injections in two babies, aged 4 and 5 months respectively, who were suffering from malnutrition. In each case the child was receiving a formula with an energy quotient of 80 calories per pound, without gain. Following minute doses of insulin with every bottle, there was a gain in weight, with better digestion and great improvement in the color and general condition of the child.Later, Marriott2 reported uniformly successful results in malnourished infants by using injections of a solution of glucose, to which insulin had been