Abstract

Ascorbic acid deficiency inhibits normal wound healing, and according to recent evidence it may also cause degenerative changes in previously healed wounds. In Anson's voyage in 1769 it was recorded that "the scars of wounds which had been for many years healed were forced open by this virulent distemper" [scurvy]. Experimental evidence in support of this presumptive susceptibility of scar tissue to vitamin C deficiency has been reported by Pirani and Levenson1 of the U. S. Army Medical Nutrition Laboratory, Chicago. These researchers selected for their experiments young adult male guinea pigs weighing on an average 450 gm. These animals had been reared on a diet containing adequate amounts of ascorbic acid. A linear midline laparotomy incision 4 cm. in length was performed on each animal, and the wounds were allowed to heal for six weeks. At the end of this time half of the animals were placed on