FOODS ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



783 



combined sulphur, and total phosphoric acid. The principal conclusions 

 reached were as follows : 



Moderate doses of borax, np to 5 gin. per day, were continued for some 

 time without influence on proteid metabolism, while doses, 5 to 10 gin. 

 daily, had a direct stimulating effect. Boric acid, in doses up to 3 gm. 

 per day, was practically without effect on proteid metabolism and the 

 general nutrition of the body. Large doses of borax tended to retard 

 the assimilation of protein and fat, increasing noticeably the weight 

 of the feces and their nitrogen and fat content. Boric acid, on the con- 

 trary, in doses up to 3 gm. was without direct influence in this regard. 

 Borax and boric acid are quickly eliminated from the body through the 

 urine, 24 to 36 hours being generally sufficient for the purpose. They 

 are rarely found in the feces. Neither has any influence on the putre- 

 factive processes in the intestines. No abnormal symptoms iu the 

 urine were observed, neither sugar nor albumen being found. Owing 

 to their rapid elimination no marked accumulative effect can result 

 from the daily consumption of borax and boric acid in moderate 

 quantities. 



These experiments are of importance, in view of the fact that borax 

 and boric acid are used as food preservatives. 



Digestion experiments with sheep, C. S. Phelps and A. P. 

 Bryant (Connecticut Storrs Sta. h'pt. 1896, pp. 246-272). — This is an 

 account of work in continuation of that reported iu the Annual Ifeport 

 of the station for 1895 (E. S. K., 8, p. 422). Eighteen experiments are 

 reported. They were made by the usual methods followed at the sta- 

 tion. The results are briefly given iu the following table: 



Average coefficients of digestibility of feeding stuffs. 



Field-cured clover rowen . 

 Barn-cured clover rowen . 

 Rowen 



Do 



Oat hay 



Rowen and coarse bran. .. 

 Rowen and wheat middlin 

 Oat fodder a 



I)o 



Oat and pea fodder a 



Do 



Millet fodder 



Barnyard millet 



Sov bean fodder a 



' Do 



Sweet corn fodder 



Cowpea fodder a 



Fuel 

 value 

 avail- 

 able. 



Per ct. 

 53.8 

 53.6 

 60.6 

 61.8 

 46.3 

 58.6 

 64.0 

 53.2 

 58.2 

 59.9 

 61.7 

 57.8 

 62.4 

 56.2 

 61.8 

 64.8 

 66.2 



a Fed green. 



The action of certain bodies on the digestive ferments, F. D. 



Simons (Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc, 19 (1897), Ao. 9, pp. 74-1-755). — The 

 author reports a number of experiments on the effect of picric acid, 



