DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FOOD. 917 



From the foregoing table, we perceive, that if 

 only the nitrogenized portions of food were 

 capable of being transformed into blood and the 

 various tissues, 1 Ib. of lean meat deprived of 

 water, (which is a binary compound, and supports 

 neither respiration nor nutrition,) ought to afford 

 as much nourishment as 7-40 Ibs. of wheat, 

 8-42 Ibs. of barley, 10 Ibs. of rye, 11-18 Ibs. of 

 maize, or 12*23 Ibs. of rice,* which is positively 



cent, in that of the Paris bakers. But it would seem to vary 

 greatly according to the nature of the soil ; for Boussingault re- 

 lates some experiments of Hermstedt, which show that wheat 

 grown on a soil manured with ox blood, or human urine and ex- 

 crements, afforded from 33 to 35 per cent, of rough gluten ; 

 while that produced on a soil manured by cow dung, or pigeons' 

 dung, afforded about 12 per cent. When manured with vegetable 

 mould, the proportion was 9'6 per cent, and 9'2 per cent, on the 

 same soil not manured. Similar experiments should be often 

 repeated for the purpose of arriving at greater certainty. 



* It also follows, that 1 Ib. of peas and beans ought to be 

 equal in nutritive value, to 2 Ibs. of wheat or barley, and 3 Ibs. of 

 rice. But even Liebig admits, that peas and beans are of inferior 

 value as articles of nourishment, because, as he thinks, they are 

 deficient in phosphate of lime and magnesia. It is well known, 

 however, to farmers, that they are excellent food for horses and 

 other domestic animals, especially when boiled or ground into 

 meal. And I am disposed to believe that they contain a larger 

 proportion of nutritive matter than was estimated by Sir Hum- 

 phrey Davy, who represents it as 57 per cent. In wheat he 

 found it 95 per cent, in barley 92 per cent, in rye 72-2. Again, 

 if the quantity of nitrogen in dry hay be 1-50 per cent, and a 

 measure of its nutritive value, 11-*- Ibs. ought to afford as much 

 nourishment as 8 J Ibs. of maize, which is absurd, and contrary 

 to all experience. Even Boussingault admits, that 27 Ibs. of 

 wheat are equal to one hundred weight of ordinary hay. 



