Cobaltum Gluconicum – Cobalt Gluconate

The attenuations are prepared from Cobalt(II)-digluconate C₁₂H₂₂Co₁₄ · 2 H₂O, MW: 485.27, the cobalt salt of D-Gluconic acid.

The importance of cobalt rests particularly on the fact that the anti-anaemic prin- ciple in Vitamin B₁₂ is a complex compound of Co⁺⁺. Glycyl-Glycinpeptidase is also believed to be specifically activated by Co⁺⁺.

Cobalt deficiency causes a serious degenerative disease of sheep in Australia, “coast disease”, an illness which is distinguished by progressive emaciation, weak- ness, loss of appetite and apathy, leading in the end to severe anaemia. It can be pre- vented or cured by giving a dose of Img. of cobalt (per sheep per day).