262 EXPERTMEITT STATION RECORD. [Vol.41 



kernel and its milling products with respect to the initrilive value of tlieir pro- 

 teins and their content of water-soluble vitamin, botli for the maintenance of 

 adult rats and the growth of young qnes. The results of these studies may be 

 summarized us follows : 



The proteins of the wheat kernel are not greatly inlerior for maintenance 

 to casein, or even the total proteins of milk, and are superior to gliadin. They 

 suffice to promote growth of rats to normal adult size, out the quantity of pro- 

 tein required for growth is relatively large. The crude protein of commercial 

 embryo meal is apparently more efficient than that of the entire wheat kernel 

 for maintenance and much more efficient for growth. The crude protein of 

 wheat bran has a higher value for growing animals than that of the embryo, 

 and is quite as efficient as that of a combination of wheat flour with eggs, milk, 

 or meat. This would indicate that the farmer is justified in his high estimate 

 of the value of wheat bran as a protein concentrate. 



The proteins of the endohperm are adequate for maintenance of adults, but 

 inadequate for growth even wlien liberal quantities are eaten. A diet con- 

 taining only 10.3 per cent of protein furnished by flour supplemented with 

 eggs, milk, or meat produced more rapid growth than when it contained even 

 50 per cent more protein derived entirely from wheat flour. This shows that 

 under the ordinary liuraan dietary conditions the proteins of wheat are ad- 

 vantageously employed. 



Commercial wheat embryo is much richer in the water-soluble vitamin than 

 commercial bran and flour. The jDure embryo, carefully separated from all 

 the other parts of the seed and used as the sole source of vitamin, suffices 

 to maintain young rats but fails to promote their growth. Wheat kernels 

 from which the embryo has been carefully removed are still rich in water- 

 soluble vitamin. From these observations the question is raised as to whether 

 the water-soluble vitamin i.s a single substance or a mixture of two or more. 

 If it is a single substance it is considered that it must be a constituent of 

 the endosperm. 



Rats fed for one year from the time of v.-eaning on diets containing 02 

 per cent of wheat or 50 per cent of commercial wheat eiul)ryo reached full 

 maturity without giving any evidence that wheat contains a toxic substance. 



In applying these results to the question of the extent to which wheat 

 should be milled, the authors conclude that, except in special cases, little can 

 l)e gained by including bran and embryo in the flour when it is used for 

 human consumption imder the conditions prevailing in this country. On the 

 contrary, since the rations of farm animals require protein supplements and 

 wheat bran Is a valuable source of such proteins, the by-products of milling 

 will be better utilized on the farm than on the table. Moreover, since " about 

 80 per cent of the wheat kernel can be so improved in nutritive value by 

 adding animal products to the diet that a much smaller amount of flour will 

 satisfy the protein needs of nutrition, it may well be that the use of the by- 

 products of milling foi- the production of meat, milk, or eggs will result in a 

 greater economy in the use of flour llian if lliese were used directly for 

 human food." 



Studies in nutrition. — I, The nutritive value of coconut globulin and coco- 

 nut press cake, C. (). .Tohns, A. J. Finks, and M. S. Paul {Jour. Biol. C'hoii., 

 S7 {1919), Ko. Jf, pp. ^97-502, flffs. //).— Feeding experiments with rats to deter- 

 mine the nutritive value of coconut globulin and coconut press cake, the com- 

 position of which has been previously noted (E. S. K., 40, p. 502), are reported 

 which indicate that coconut globulin produces luirnial .L;i-o\vth when u: ed as 

 the sole source of protein in an otherwise complete diet, and that commercial 

 coconut in-ess cake fnrnishes the necessary protein for growth at almost a 



