FOODS ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



373 



is described, and the results are given of the determination of galactan 

 in a large number of coarse and concentrated feeding - stuffs, seeds, by- 

 products, etc. The results are also calculated to galactose. The method 

 is not considered reliable for amounts of galactan under 1 per cent. 



"The results as given show the presence of very small amounts of galactan in the 

 nonleguminous coarse fodders and seeds. In the leguminous plants from 3 to 1 

 per cent are present, while in case of the leguminous seeds several varieties of 

 beans and peas appear to contain very limited quantities, but the larger number of 

 such seeds tested show from 14- to as high as 14 per cent. With the exception of the 

 lupines, the clover seeds contain the largest amounts, the seeds of white variety con- 

 taining 9 per cent. 



"The results are merely a report of progress. They show, however, that the 

 galactans are not as widely distributed nor present in such large quantities as are 

 the pentosans, and therefore do not play such an important part as do the latter in 

 the process of nutrition. We propose to continue the investigation of the distribu- 

 tion of these substauces, and also to determine their digestibility." 



On the distribution of fat and protein in the bodies of animals 

 poor in flesh, together with observations on a method of deter- 

 mining fat, M. Schulz (Arch, gesam. Physiol. [PJiiiger], 66, No. /-/, pp. 

 145-166). — The nitrogen and fat in the tissues and organs of it lean 

 dogs were determined. The suitability for this purpose of Dormeyer's 1 

 method of estimating fat was studied. The principal conclusions 

 reached were the following: Dormeyer's method of estimating fat 

 (digesting the substance with pepsin and hydrochloric acid before 

 extracting it) can be used for determining the fat in the different organs 

 and tissues. From appearances it is impossible to tell whether an 

 animal is actually fat or lean. By a comparatively long period of fast- 

 ing it is impossible to reduce the fat content of the body to the lowest 

 limit. The nitrogen content of the different organs when dry and free 

 from fat is about the same. 



Digestion experiments with sheep, J. B. Lindsey, E. B. Hol- 

 land, and (Jr. A. Billings (Massachusetts Hatch Sta. Ept. 1896, p. 

 135). — A very brief report is given of experiments with sheep made 

 during the year on the digestibility of rice meal, Pope gluten feed, 

 Pope gluten meal, millet and soy-bean silage, corn and soy-bean silage, 

 and hay (mostly timothy). The results are shown in the following 

 table: 



Coefficients of digestibility of feeding stuffs. 



Dry 



matter. 



Protein. 



Fat. 



Nitrogen. Crnde 

 extract. 



fiber. 



Rice meal (2 trials) 



Pope gluten feed (2 trials) 



Pope gluten meal (2 trials) 



Millet and soy-bean silage (4 trials) . 

 Corn and soy-bean silage (3 trials) . . . 

 Hay (mostly timothy) 



1 Arch, gesam. Physiol. [Pfliiger], 64, p. 341 ; 65, p. 96 (E. S. R., 7, p. 919) ' 

 8563— No. 4 6 



