144 



NEUTRON EFFECTS ON ANIMALS 



fore, were investigated with special reference to the total fluid volume 

 and the total solids in the stomach, and to the pH, the total acidity and 

 the peptic activity of the gastric juice. 



Both male and female rats, averaging approximately 200 grams in 

 weight, were used. In each of 5 experiments one half of the rats was 

 irradiated (1) in 1 hour \\-ith 56.4 n in Box No. 7, the other half serving as 

 controls. The rats were fasted for 24 hours prior to irradiation and for 

 24 hours following irradiation and then given a test meal of finely powdered 

 dried toast in distilled water, 0.8 g. of toast in a total volume of 4 cc, 

 except where otherwise stated. At intervals after administering the test 



1.5 



1.0 



0.5 



I 2 3 



DAYS 



A B 



Fig. 2a and b. The effect of 56.4 n on the amount of solid residue in the stomachs 

 of rats A) following administration of test meal and B) fasted 24 hours before deter- 

 minations. # Irradiated. O Control. 



meal by stomach tube, groups of 3 to 5 of the irradiated and of the control 

 rats were decapitated, their stomachs removed and the contents examined. 



Residual Solids. The average amount of solid residue (dry) remaining 

 in the stomachs of each of the 5 groups of irradiated rats tested at hourly 

 intervals follo^^^ng the administration of the test meal was consistently 

 greater than that of the 5 groups of non-irradiated animals. The differ- 

 ence in the amount of solid residue between irradiated and control rats is 

 shown for one of the 5 groups in Fig. 2A. 



It may be noted here that the food consumption of similar rats (above) 

 given the same amount of neutron irradiation was sharply reduced 24 and 

 48 hours following irradiation. On the 3rd day the food consumption 



