CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF RABBITS. 55 



SUMMARY. 



There are many variations in the composition of the diiYerent 

 portions of the rabbits, apparently due to the feeding of phosphorus 

 in the two forms. The amount of ether-alcohol-soluble phosphorus 

 stored in the brains and nerves is much lower in the case of the 

 rabbits fed inorganic phosphorus than in the normal rabbits and 

 those fed organic phosphorus. The organic and the inorganic 

 phosphorus, fed in excess, caused an increased percentage of ether- 

 soluble material in the bones, and an indication of the same is noted 

 in the brains and in the nerves. No increased storage of calcium 

 or magnesium w<is imted ; on the contrary there isaslight decrease, as 

 compared with the normal, in bones, nerves, and brain. The ether- 

 alcohol soluble phosphorus of the blood was reduced in all eases 

 where phosphorus was fed. The increase in the fat of the livers was 

 marked in both cases of phosphorus feeding, but was greater for 

 the rabbits fed organic phosphorus. If a large percentage of ether- 

 alcohol soluble phosphorus in the brains and nerves is desirable, 

 then the rabbits fed organic phosphorus were in a better condition, 

 the data, than were those led on inorganic phosphorus. 



The nitrogen content was determined in all of the samples, and is 

 given in Table VIII calculated to a water-free basis. The percentage 

 of nitrogen found iu the bones varied from -l.il'J per cent in the 

 bones of the normal rabbits to Lt'.s per cent in the bones of the 

 rabbits fed on inorganic phosphorus. The percentage of nitrogen 

 found iu the livers of t he experimental rabbits \\ as considerably lower 

 than in the livers ,,f the normal rabbits, this agreeing with the 

 other dala >howing a ^em-rally poor condition of the livers of the 

 former. The percentage of nitrogen found in the blood was fairly 

 coiisi ant. as i> usually the case, and the same is true of the brains. 

 Just why we find a variation in the amount of nitrogen present in 

 the nerves and spinal cord is diliicult to explain. More, ash and 

 more ether-alcohol-soluble phosphorus are found in the samples of 

 nerves of the rabbits fed organic phosphorus, which also show the 

 highest percentage of nitrogen. The ratio ot phosphorus to nitrogen 

 in the liver of rabbits is 1:14.7, according to Wellmann. His 

 figures are higher than the results obtained in this experiment, the 

 ratio of phosphorus to nitrogen being, for normal rabbits 1:9.7, for 

 rabbits fed organic phosphorus i:S.8, and for those fed inorganic 

 phosphorus 1:8.6. 



Arch. ^-am. I'hysiol., 1908, 121:508. 



