90 



Journal of Agricultural Research 



Vol. XII, No. 2 



whether extraction of gossypol from cottonseed by a solvent renders the 

 residue nontoxic; (3) whether by the addition of vitamine-containing 

 feeds, cottonseed-meal poisoning can be averted. 



Four small Duroc-Jersey pigs were confined in small pens about 3.5 by 

 8 feet. The pens had a concrete floor which was bedded with pine 

 shavings. The water used was secured from the city mains. The pigs 

 were fed the diets given in Table IV. 



Table IV. — Percentage composition of diets for pigs 



a About one-half pound daily. 



Pig 2 received at the start 1.22 gm. of gossypol daily. This figure is 

 based on yields (about i per cent) of crude crystalline gossypol acetate, 

 obtained from "oil-free" cottonseed kernels. Gossypol "acetate" 

 equivalent to the required amount of gossypol was dissolved in ether; the 

 acetic acid present was removed from the ether solution by agitation with 

 water. The ether solution of gossypol was then spread over a part of 

 the corn meal and the ether evaporated. This was no doubt an unneces- 

 sary procedure, as we have found no difference in the action of the 

 "acetate" and the "free" gossypol. 



Pig 3 was fed on cottonseed kernels from which practically all the 

 gossypol had been removed by percolation with ether. 



Pig 4 was fed with a view to supplying any deficiency of vitamines in 

 the cottonseed meal by wheat bran, whole milk, and some green food, 

 chiefly leguminous. It is not possible to give the exact composition of 

 the ration of this pig. The green feed (about J/z pound daily) was not 

 always consumed. By disregarding the green feed eaten and by assuming 

 that the milk contained 12 per cent of solids, the composition of the diet 

 was approximately as given above. 



Figures i and 2 and Tables V to VII summarize the important data of 

 the experiment. 



