76 TRANSFORMATION OF THE INTESTINAL FLORA 



CHART 33 



The administration of 200 grams of dextrin to subject F exercised 

 a slight transforming effect (see Table 36), whereas 150 grams of the 

 same carbohydrate to subject I resulted in much greater stimulation 

 of the development of B. acidophilus (Table 37). Idiosyncrasies of 

 this sort on the part of the human subject were observed in the lactose 

 feeding also. While the ingestion of either 150 or 200 grams of dextrin 

 encouraged the proliferation of B. acidophilus, there was no marked 

 suppression of other types of bacteria vegetating in the intestinal canal. 



The rise in the B. acidophilus curve as the result of the feeding of 

 300 grams of dextrin daily is at least as sharp as in the administra- 

 tion of the same amount of lactose, reaching its maximum on the third 

 or the fourth day. Dextrin has been found as effective a transform- 

 ing agent as lactose (Chart 33). The decidedly objectionable odor and 

 taste of the dextrin solution will of necessity stand in the way of its 

 practical use, however, even though other substances like orange juice 

 may be employed to partly obscure the taste and odor. 



