To the Editor:—
A communication by Dr. James S. McLester in The Journal, May 27, page 2113, mentions "the neuritis of diabetes mellitus, which Williams and Spies (Vitamin B, and Its Use in Medicine, New York, Macmillan Company, 1938) believe is due to vitamin B1 deficiency." This seems to imply that Williams and Spies were the first ones to suggest the possible relationship between neuritis of diabetes and vitamin B deficiency. As a matter of fact, in a paper read at the annual session of the American Medical Association at Dallas, Texas, in 1926 (Avitaminosis in the Course of Diabetes, The Journal, Sept. 18, 1926, p. 901), I expressed the opinion that the neuralgic pains in the course of diabetes mellitus may be due to a disordered metabolism of nerve cells with more extensive degeneration incident to avitaminosis. This opinion was based on careful clinical observations and inquiry into the