DIGESTIBILITY OF SOME SEED OILS. 15 



Summary of digestion experiments ivith rapeseed oil in a simple mixed diet. 



Experi- 

 ment 

 No. 



Subject. 



Protein. 



Fat. 



Carbohy- 

 drates. 



Ash. 



629 



A. F 



Per cent. 

 86.2 

 80.3 

 81.3 

 73.7 



Percent. 

 96.6 

 96.0 

 96.4 

 93.7 



Percent. 

 96.4 

 94.4 

 94.8 

 93.5 



Percent. 

 97.1 



630 



P. K 



96.9 



631 



J. C. M 



95.7 



632 



C. J. W 



95.4 











80.4 



95.7 



94.8 



96.3 









During the test periods with rapeseed oil the subjects ate on an 

 average 43 grams of protein, 84 grams of fat, and 255 grams of car- 

 bohydrates daily which were 80.4 per cent, 95.T per cent, and 94.8 

 per cent digested, respectively. Less than 3 per cent of the total fat 

 eaten was supplied by the basal ration and approximately 82 grams 

 of rapeseed oil was eaten by each subject daily. When allowance is 

 made for that portion of the ether extract of the feces which has been 

 shown to consist oi metabolic products and undigested fat resulting 

 from the basal ration the value 95.7 per cent obtained for the digesti- 

 bility of the total fat of the diet becomes 98.8 per cent for the diges- 

 tibility of rapeseed oil alone. 



In their reports of their physical condition during tlie test periods 

 the subjects made no mention of an}^ laxative effects resulting from 

 the diet and accordingly it is assumed that the limit of tolerance for 

 rapeseed oil is somewhat in excess of 84 grams, the average amount 

 eaten daily by the subjects during the experiments here reported. 



CHARLOCK OIL. 



The charlock {Brassica arvensis) or wild mustard is rarely, if 

 ever, cultivated in the United States, but in some localities it appears 

 in the grainfields to such an extent that when the grain is thrashed 

 large quantities of charlock seed are present in the grain. 



When such grain is cleaned at the elevators wheat screenings or 

 what is commonly referred to as " dockage " by the elevator men is 

 obtained. These screenings ordinarily contain a wide variety of 

 weed seeds, including charlock. The charlock is later separated 

 from the other weed seeds by the feed dealers who buy the " dock- 

 age " to obtain the wild oats and other feed seed which it contains. 

 It has been estimated that charlock seed is obtained in this way in 

 sufficient quantities to warrant its use for commercial purposes. 



Charlock seed, when subjected to pressure, yields an oil very simi- 

 lar in properties to some of the common edible oils, but has, when 

 unrefined, a harsh, unpleasant taste. Bailey and Burnett^ studied 



^Jour. Indus, and Engin. Chem., 8 (1916), No. 5, p. 429. 



