362 The Feeding of Animals 



vironment, as has the pig. We now regard the 

 abnormal masses of porcine fat which have heretofore 

 appeared in our markets as not only an exhibition of 

 physical monstrosities, but as not serving the health 

 interests of the human family. 



The primary object in feeding pigs should be, as 

 with all domestic animals, the securing of a normal 

 and vigorous physiological development, i. e., an or- 

 ganism with a strong bony structure and with such a 

 growth of muscular tissue as shall insure full exercise 

 of all the vital functions. The view seems to have 

 prevailed, in a practical way at least, that pigs can be 

 fed on anything, live and sleep anywhere and still not 

 suffer ill effects, as .would be the case with the other 

 farm animals. This has been unfortunate, because 

 probably no other domestic species is so susceptible to 

 abnormal development through improper feeding as 

 are swine. It is true, at least, that no other species 

 has shown so marked a response to changes in the 

 character of the rations, through modifications of the 

 bony structure and through variations in the propor- 

 tions of muscle and fat tissue. 



Notable proof of the plasticity of the pig's organ- 

 ism was supplied by the experiments of Sanborn and 

 Henry in comparing rations extremely nitrogenous with 

 those extremely carbohydrate in character. Pigs fed 

 liberally on blood, milk and shorts combined with 

 more or less corn meal, made growth more rapidly, 

 had stronger bones, larger organs and more muscular 

 tissue than those fed on corn meal or a mixture of 

 corn meal with other highly non-nitrogenous materials, 



