CHAP. XIII.] THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF CELLULOSE. 



481 



observed the solution of a large proportion of the cellulose which it 

 contained. In the process, which occurred rapidly, gases were evolved 

 and the fermenting liquid became acid ; no sugar was formed. 



Henneberg and Stohmann 1 , on the basis of these experiments, 

 argued in favour of the actual nutritive value of cellulose, but their 

 views have been controverted by H. Weiske 2 and others. 



According to v. Kniriem, cellulose is essential to the herbivora for 

 physical and not chemical purposes. He found that rabbits fed upon 

 diet otherwise perfectly adequate to support life, but containing no 

 cellulose, invariably died of intestinal inflammation, the caecum 

 being found to be filled with coherent pitch-like contents. When, 

 however, horn shavings were mixed with food of the same compo- 

 sition, rabbits fed upon it throve, and the intestinal contents presented 

 a normal appearance. 



Whether cellulose plays any part or not as an active nutritive 

 agent, we must, from all the researches hitherto made, arrive at the 

 conclusion that in herbivora a considerable decomposition of this 

 proximate principle occurs, brought about by the agency of the 

 micro-organisms of the alimentary canal. Whilst this decomposition 

 in Ruminantia probably has its chief seat in the rumen, in the 

 Rodentia and Solidungula it is probable that it is chiefly localised in 

 the capacious ccecum. 



1 Henneberg and Stohmann, ' Ueber die Bedeutung der Cellulose-Gahrung fiir die 

 Ernahrung der Thiere,' Zeitsch.f. Biol. Vol. xxi. (1885), p. 613. 



2 H. Weiske, ' Kommt der Cellulose eiweissersparende Wirkung bei der Ernahrung 

 der Herbivora zu?' Zeitsch.f. Biol., Vol. xxn. (1886), p. 373. 



3 v. Kniriem, op. cit. 



G. 



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