76 SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



tion, each kilogram giving on an average 526 gr. 

 body fat. 



The ability of the animal to store the fat of the 

 food in the body extends to fats which are other- 

 wise foreign to the organism. It has been noticed 

 that lean dogs fed with large quantities of linseed 

 oil developed fat which differed very considerably 

 from the usual fat of the dog, and remained liquid 

 even at o C. (32 F.). Further, a dog in a lean 

 condition after being fed on mutton suet stored 

 in its tissues a fat which did not melt at 50 C. 

 In another experiment two young pigs were fed on 

 barley meal and then from each a small piece was cut 

 from the layer of fat on the back, cocaine being used 

 to prevent pain. In both cases the fat had exactly 

 similar properties. One pig was then fed for ten 

 weeks on barley meal and linseed oil and the other for 

 the same length of time on barley meal and cocoa-nut 

 oil. Afterwards small portions of fat were again 

 taken from the backs, and it was found that where 

 the linseed oil had been given the fat was soft and 

 had the characteristic smell of linseed oil as well as 

 containing some materials (sativinic acid) peculiar 

 to that oil. The pig which had been given cocoa-nut 

 oil yielded a fat which was much firmer and which 

 could be distinguished chemically from that of the 

 other pig. These examples and many more prove 

 that not only can the fat of the food be stored in 

 the body, but also that it is possible to make the 



