Van Dongen, L. G. R.2018-08-062018-08-061950https://hdl.handle.net/10539/25242Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Doctor of Medicine ( Obstetrics and Gynaecology ) , University of the Witwatersrand . 1950Iron is one of the vital elements of the human body. Without it respiration would be quite impossible. Haemoglobin, the transporter of oxygen throughout the body, has iron as an essential constituent, and it is in this protein complex that the greatest bulk of the metal is found. Iron also plays a very essential part in the respiration of the tissues, as it is a vital element in intracellular respiratory enzymes such as catalase, cytochrome, cytochrome oxidase, etc. Further it is found in the chromatin material of nuclei in the cells of all the tissues.enIronInfant, NewbornHemoglobinsThesis