282 



Journal of Agricultural Research 



removed and boiled in a large flask with alcohol. The first alcoholic 

 extracts were quite highly colored. The extraction was repeated until 

 a filtrate was obtained which possessed only a pale-yellow color. 



The ether-alcohol-extracted kernels were fed daily to three rabbits for 

 from 72 to 105 days in amounts ranging from the equivalent of 15.2 to 

 24 gm. of kernels; at the end of the period the rabbits were normal and 

 all had gained from 30 to 148 per cent of their initial weight and were 

 still gaining. 



The severe test that these rabbits endured is sufficient to show that a 

 feed has been prepared which can be called practically nontoxic. 



It also indicates that protein and organic phosphates (inosite phos- 

 phoric acid salts), which are present in the feed in larger amounts than 

 in cottonseed meal, have very little, if anything, to do with cottonseed- 

 meal poisoning. 



Table XI. — Results of feeding cottonseed kernels extracted with gasoline, ether, and 

 alcohol (feed jji) to rabbits 



Weight of rabbit. 



Equivalent of feed 

 eaten as kernels. 



Number of 

 days fed. 



966 

 967 

 968 



335 

 640 

 610 



Gm. 



1,897 

 1,590 

 2,09s 



Gm. 

 562 

 950 



485 



Gm.. 

 1,043 

 957 

 1,108 



Gm. 

 1,738 

 1,595 

 1,846 



Gm.. 

 24 

 15.2 

 19. 6 



72 

 105 

 94 



Rabbit 967 was slightly off its feed only on the fortieth and forty-first 

 days, but recovered quickly and continued to gain. See Table XII. 



Rabbit 968 was one of the lot of Belgian hares received from Washing- 

 ton, D. C, in rather poor health. It was started at the rate of 15 gm. 

 daily, equivalent to 25 gm. of whole kernels. This proved too heavy 

 feeding, for after two weeks the animal went off its feed for several 

 days. The ration was then reduced (Table XII). 



Table XII.— 7?ecori of rabbits 07 and 968 on feed 331 



10 gm. of corn meal was added daily to the feed. 



f> Loss in weight was due to the deUvery of seven young rabbits. 



