XEGLECTED POIXTS IX STOCK FEEDIXG. 599 



Most of these investigations have had reference to the relative 

 amounts of the various organic constituents of the food — i.e., to the 

 most suitable portions of protein, fat, and carbohydrates in the rations 

 for various purposes. 



Indeed, in the popular mind, these three classes of constituents 

 comprise all that is recognised as of much importance in the ration 

 of an animal, and though there is a general and vague belief that the 

 food must contain a sufficiency of " bone-forming" or '" ash consti- 

 tuents," little consideration is usually paid to the composition or 

 amount of the mineral matter present in food stuffs. 



In this paper, the writer will endeavour to point out certain 

 facts and deductions which he trusts will show that the inorganic 

 ■constituents of food are of more importance than is generally 

 realised, ■ and that a careful consideration of these points will 

 frequently be of service to those interested in the feeding of animals. 



It is not necessary here to dwell upon the desirability of a "well- 

 balanced" ration, since this point has long been realised by intelli- 

 gent stock-keepers. 



Nevertheless, neglect of this point is only too common among 

 farmers, cattle feeders, and poultry keepers, and a fuller and -nader 

 recognition of it is undoubtedly to be desired. 



But even with a ration possessing a suitable '" albuminoid ratio," 

 the best results will not be obtained unless it also supplies all the 

 substances essential to the formation of the body tissues and secre- 

 tions, and in something like the proper proportions. 



Now, in the animal body there are various secretions necessary 

 for carrying on the processes of digestion, &c., and some of these 

 contain as essential constituents small quantities of elements which 

 are not very abundant in plants, or at least not ii\ all plants. 



For example, the gastric juice contains chlorine, the secretion of 

 the thyroid gland, iodine, the blood contains iron, the saliva sulpho- 

 cyanides, the bones and teeth, fluorine, &c., &c. 



In the case of an animal in a state of Nature, it usually has 

 access to a great variety of food stuffs, and thus a deficiency of any 

 one item of food, in any one element, is probably made good by the 

 presence of that element in some other food. But, with animals kept 

 in captivity, the case may, and doubtless often is, dift'erent, and 

 there can be little doubt that such animals often have perforce to do 

 without a sufficiency of certain substances required for the formation 

 of their secretions. In such cases, the proper growth and develop- 

 ment of the animal must be intei'fered with. 



I. — Lime axd Phospmohic Acid. . 



In the case of two chief mineral constituents required for the 

 formation of bone, the writer has shown that not only must they be 

 present in sufficient quantities in the food, but that for proper nutri- 

 tion of bone to occur, their relative proportions must be approxi- 

 mately right, or injury results. 



In a paper on Osteoporosis* — a Ijone disease very prevalent in 

 South Africa among horsas, mules, and donkeys — the writer addticed 



* "Journal of Compa,r<itive Pathology and Therapeutic?." March, IDO". 



