ALMONDSEED, CAKE, ETC. 123 



jecting the cakes to a high temperature. If this precaution is not taken, 

 serious poisoning results. Symptoms, gastrointestinal inflammation, vio- 

 lent diarrhea, paralysis, swelling and dark red discoloration of the con- 

 junctiva, accelerated and weak pulse, nephritis, cloudy swelling of the 

 liver, due to the toxic principle, ricin. According to Bierbaum, 0.4 grams 

 of castor oil beans, and according to Miessner 0.1 gram of castor oil 

 beans in a single dose, or consecutive daily doses of 0.05 grams per 1 

 kilogram (2 pounds) live weight, for several days, are fatal to horses. 

 Bierbaum fed 204.5 grams of castor oil beans in the course of 26 days, 

 and 240 grams in the course of 45 days, to horses. In the latter in- 

 stance there followed considerable loss of weight but no other observable 

 symptoms. Rabbits die after consuming 0.75 to 1.0 gram of castor oil 

 bean seed per kilogram live weight. On the other hand, Miessner found 

 that a single dose of from 30 to 50 grams will kill a horse. Sometimes 

 other oil-cake products are adulterated with castor oil seed cake that 

 has not been deprived of its toxic principle. For the detection of castor 

 oil bean by-products, see page 135. 



Almond-seed cake is a very palatable and wholesome feedingstufif foi 

 milk cows. 



Mustard seed cake. — Origin : Species of mustard, Sinapis nigra, S. alba 

 and 5". arvensis. Not suitable as a feedingstufif for domestic animals. 



Cocoa oil cakes are used as feed for milk cows and swine, rarely for 

 horses. According to Hansen, they contain l}^ per cent theobromin. 

 They are readily eaten and digested when given in small amounts. In 

 quantities as high as 2 pounds they may produce poisoning in swine, 

 cattle and poultry. Symptoms, exhaustion, swaying of the hind parts, 

 general spasms, death from cardiac paralysis. 



They contain, further, 14 per cent of crude protein, which is entirely 

 indigestible. Cocoa cakes decrease the milk secretion to the extent of 1 

 quart per day and decrease the percentage of fat }i per cent. 



Niger cake. — ^Origin: Ramtil, Guisotia abyssinica is wholesome, but 

 contains a large per cent of woody cellulose and is therefore less digesti- 

 ble and of less value than other oil cakes. Milk cows and fattening 

 sheep may take 10 pounds per 1,000 pounds live weight. 



Pumpkin-seed cake. — Origin : Pumpkin seed, Cucurbita pepo. Made 

 from hulled seeds. Wholesome and nutritious. 



Kapok and olive cake. — Their value, etc., has not yet been demon- 

 strated. 



The by-products of caraway, fennel, anise and coriander seed, which 

 occur in the distillation of their volatile oils, contain in entirety the orig- 

 inal fats and oils and are suitable as feed for fattening cattle and milk 

 cows. 



Mahwa nut oil cake. — Origin : Bassia longifolia and B. latifolia, na- 

 tives of Borneo, India, Senegal, etc. The seeds produce a fixed oil. 

 Ramm and Moeller recommend the "cake" for milk cows. It contains 

 little protein but is rich in fat and carbohydrates. 



