The paralysis which developed in suckling rats of vitamin E deficient mothers was first described by Evans and Burr ( '28). Olcott ('38) demonstrated that the paralysis was due to muscle lesions similar to those which were described by Goettsch and Pappenheimer ('31) in young guinea pigs and rabbits. The same dystrophic condition has been prodweld in other aiiinials2 on vitamin E deficient diets. The histological modifications in the skeletal muscle described by the above workers are acconipanied by alterations in the functional behavior and in the chemical composition of the muscle. Houchin and Mattill ('42)' Kuntz and Pappenheimer ( '43), and Pappenheimer ('43) determined that the rate of oxygen consumption is increased in the skeletal muscle from vitamin E deficient animals. None of the above workers have reported any histological evidence of lesions in the cardiac muscle. Houchiii and Smith ('44)' in their attempt to determine the immediate cause of death, observed evidence of myocardial failure in vitamin E deficient rabbits. They also reported an increased 0, consumption in the cardiac muscle from Edeficient hamsters. 'This problem has heen supported in part by a grant from the American Medical Association Council 011 Medical Research t o Dr. 0. B. Houchin. Goettsch and Pappenheimer ( '34 ; ducklings) ; Ringsted ( '35 ; older rats) ; Madseii, McCoy and Maynard ( '35; sheep and goats) : Houchin ( '42: hamster) ; Pappenheimer ( '42 ; mice), 249