THE VITAMINES IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



145 



disease was attributed to toxic action of wheat. Addition of whole 

 milk had only a slight effect upon the general well-being of the 

 animals, but the addition of alfalfa grass soon permitted of the 

 development of a normal condition. In all these investigations, 

 growth was interrupted when the general condition of the animal 

 became worse. It seems to us that without further indisputable 

 evidence, it is difficult to accept the view as to the toxicity of wheat 

 kernel. It may be possible that food mixtures were used, the vita- 



FIG. 35. BERIBERI-LIKE DISEASE IN A PIG ON A DIET CONSISTING OP 45 PARTS 



CORN, 45 PARTS OATS, 10 PARTS OIL SEED PRESS-CAKE AND 5 PARTS 



BUTTER (HART, MILLER AND McCoLLUM) 



mine A content of which was barely sufficient, while vitamine C was 

 almost completely lacking. Experiments with the addition of these 

 vitamines were not made. 



With products derived from cotton seed, the behavior was naturally 

 different. These contain a toxic substance called "gossypol." Such 

 products, fed to pigs, cause death in 50 to 80 days, according to 

 Roberts (425) . But even in these cases, there seems to be a vitamine 

 deficiency, according to Rommel and Vedder (426). In 8 to 15 days, 

 this food produces in these animals a picture of disease resembling 



