LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY, 

 Washington, D. 0., June 27, 1898. 



SIR : I transmit herewith for your inspection and approval the manu- 

 script containing the results of our investigations, undertaken at your 

 suggestion, on the chemical composition of the carcasses of pigs grown 

 at the agricultural experiment station of Iowa. 



The scope of these investigations has extended so much farther than 

 was at first anticipated as to render the results thereof worthy of pub- 

 lication as a separate bulletin of this Division. A study of the char- 

 acter of the data obtained will reveal at once their great importance, 

 both from a scientific point of view and as a basis for economic studies. 



The carcasses, as received by us, represented practically only those 

 portions of the whole carcass which are subjects of commerce. The 

 blood, hair, entrails, heads, kidneys, and kidney fats of the animals 

 were removed before they were transmitted to us. The data, therefore, 

 do not represent the composition of the whole animal, but what, per- 

 haps, is of equal importance, the composition of the animal as sent into 

 commerce for food. 



In view of the great importance of investigations of this kind, I 

 would venture to suggest that when the facilities for work in the chemi- 

 cal laboratories are extended by the completion of the new building 

 now in course of construction, it would be well for you to direct that 

 further studies of this kind be undertaken. It would be advisable, if 

 possible, that in studies of this kind, the animals be slaughtered at or 

 near the point where the chemical examination is to be made, or if this 

 be not convenient, that a representative of the Chemical Division be 

 present at the time of the slaughtering for the purpose of ascertaining 

 the quantities of blood, hair, and excreta from the different animals and 

 obtaining representative samples thereof for chemical examination. 

 I have the honor to be, respectfully, 



H. W. WILEY, 



Chief of Division. 



Hon. JAMES WILSON, Secretary. 



