368 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



In a study with poultry extending over three years, pens of 12 pullets each, 

 as near the same age as possible and of the same breeding, were fed rations re- 

 stricted to corn, wheat, oats, or barley for 10 months. No appreciable difference 

 was observed during the first 90 days, but when the feeding was continued 

 longer physiological disturbances began to appear on the wheat-fed lots, and at 

 the end of the trial only four, three, and six pullets, respectively, were alive 

 out of the original 12 in each of the three pens. No fowls were lost in the corn 

 lot, and the oats and barley rations ranked midway between the corn and vv^heat. 

 There ' appeared to be no consistent difference in the number of eggs produced 

 by the different lots, nor in the percentage or vigor of chicks hatched from the 

 various lots. 



Acidosis in omnivora and herbivora and its relation to protein storage, 

 H. Steenbock, V. E. Nelson, and E. B. Haet {Jour. Biol. Chem., 19 (1914), 

 No. 3, pp. 399-419). — The experiments reported in this paper deal with the rise 

 and fall of urinary ammonia production when swine, as representatives of om- 

 nivora, are confined to grains alone or grains supplemented with basic mate- 

 rials. Other experiments deal with the influence of acid rations on ammonia 

 production in herbivora (calves). 



It was found that " acid rations fed to swine (omnivora) or calves (herbiv- 

 ora) occasion a rise in urinary ammonia with a compensative fall in output 

 of urea. Presumably on a normal level of protein intake a part of the ammonia, 

 produced either in the intestine or liver, combines with acids and is excreted as 

 the salts of these acids. This power to help maintain neutrality by the pro- 

 duction or use of ammonia is apparently very general in all mammals. Am- 

 monia production, under conditions of exogenous protein metabolism, does not 

 occasion an increased nitrogen excretion or an interference with protein storage. 



"In herbivora (calves) approximate endogenous nitrogen metabolism, accom- 

 panied by mineral acid ingestion, likewise occasions a rise in urinary ammonia, 

 but does not, on the level of acid used, cause a rise in protein catabolism, as 

 has been observed with dogs and swine. This may be due In this experiment to 

 a greater dilution of the ammonium salts incident to a large consumption of 

 water by this class of animals. 



"Data are also given on calcium and phosphorus metabolism during both 

 neutral and acid periods of low nitrogen intake, as well as on a period of 

 high nitrogen intake. Very probably the skeleton was not drawTi upon for cal- 

 cium during the period of lowest acid ingestion. Only on a high acid ingestion 

 did it appear probable that decalcification of the bones began and then only a 

 withdrawal of calcium carbonate. 



" From the records submitted on growth and reproduction it is believed that 

 natural acid rations, if otherwise satisfactory, are as effective for growth or 

 reproduction as those of basic character. However, until it has been shown 

 conclusively that less vigorous individuals will tolerate acid rations with perfect 

 impunity, we are not warranted in making too sweeping conclusions." 



Belation of different fats to animal growth (Wisconsin Sta. Bui. 250 (1915), 

 pp. 47, 48). — In continuation of work previously noted (E. S. R., 31, p. 8{)4) it 

 has been found that milk fat can be converted into soaps without destroying its 

 peculiar constituent, and that when olive oil is shaken with a solution of these 

 soaps the vital principle is transferred to the olive oil and it will then induce 

 growth in the same manner as butter fat alone. See also a previous note by 

 McCollum and Davis (E. S. 11., 32, p. 360). 



Effect of poison on germ cells (Wisconsin Sta. Bui. 250 (1915'), pp. 44-46, 

 fig. 1). — In continuation of work by L. J. Cole previously noted (E. S. R., 31, 

 p. 876) it is concluded that lead poisoning so acts on the germ cells of the 



