184 Journal of Agricultural Research voijc, N0.4 



The data demonstrated that baking had made no improvement in 

 the whole-wheat grain. The toxic substance present was not destroyed 

 or rendered inocuous by the temperature employed. Further, the 

 variation in the resistance of the individual showed itself in the records 

 of Nos. 650 and 651, as they did with Nos. 637 and 641, whose records 

 are shown in Table III. With com stover as a roughage, the bad effect 

 of the whole-wheat grain disappeared in some cases, but not in all. 

 Attention should be called to the typical attitude taken by most of the 

 wheat-grain calves* illustrated admirably by the calf of No. 644 (PI. 26, 

 D-F). These animals, unable to stand, would lie on their side with 

 their heads thrown back and respiration labored. Feebly blatting, they 

 would often raise their heads to a central position and then let them fall 

 back again upon their shoulders. When raised to their feet, the ani- 

 mals would make no efforts to stand, and if unsupported would fall 

 into a heap. Practically no use was made of the muscles. 



Another important fact to be mentioned in this connection is that a 

 cow, after maturity was reached and growth had ceased, could with- 

 stand a wheat and wheat -straw ration very much better than during the 

 growing period. This is also illustrated by cow 644 (PI. 26, D-F), an 

 animal that had received this ration for 12 months. Though these ani- 

 mals became slow in movement and sluggish, yet their coats remained 

 fairly bright and smooth, and to all outward appearances appeared 

 normal. The reproduction records with the flour are in harmony with 

 our other records with the ration of wheat grain and corn stover. For 

 some individuals there was apparently some disturbing factor in the 

 flour, which, by the use of a good roughage like corn stover, was over- 

 come, while with other individuals its effect was to disturb reproduction. 

 However, more data should be accumulated on the disturbing factors in 

 wheat flour before final conclusions can be made. For the present, 

 therefore, this phase of the problem is left open. 



INFLUENCE ON REPRODUCTION OF SALTS ADDED TO A CORN RATION 



While formulating explanations of our failure with the wheat ration, 

 the theory prominent in our minds was the possibility that the dis- 

 turbances observed were due to an unfavorable balance of mineral 

 materials or a decidedly acid condition in the animal brought about by 

 a low base supply in the ration. If these were real causal agents, then 

 it should be possible to take a ration known to be physiologically ade- 

 quate and disturb it by additions of bases or acids, thereby presenting 

 to the cells a new relation of these substances. On this theory it was 

 proposed to add to an all-corn ration such proportions of calcium, mag- 

 nesium, and potassium as would disturb the relation of base to acid 

 radicals and which, in an all-com-plant ration, were manifestly adequate 

 for successful growth and reproduction. 



