128 MAIND AGRICULTUAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I905. 



Digestibility of cereal breakfast foods as determined by digestion 



experiments. 



Diet. 



5« 



HC 



OS 

 e3 C 



Boiled oats with a mixed diet 



with a simple diet 



alone 



Rolled wlieat "with a mixed diet 



with a simple diet 



alone 



Force with a mixed diet 



with a simple diet 



alone 



Grape-Nuts with a mixed diet 



with a simple diet 



alone 



Shredded Whole Wheat with a mixed diet. 

 with a simple diet 

 alone 



Hecker's Hominy with a mixed diet 



with a simple diet 



alone 



Granulated corn meal, mixed diet 



with a simple diet . 

 alone 



Per 

 cent. 

 96.2 

 95.4 

 92.3 



Per 1 

 cent. : 

 90.1 

 84.7 

 78.4 



96.2 

 95.2 

 92.4 



93.2 

 91.6 

 85.0 



95.7 

 94.6 

 90.4 



92.7 

 89.6 

 76.1 



96.6 

 94.0 

 91.7 



92.8 

 87.6 

 76.1 



95.5 



92.8 

 87.7 



92.1 

 84.1 

 57.7 



97.1 

 97.3 



88.9 

 83.6 

 74.5 



97.2 

 97.2 



89-0 

 82.3 

 73.2 



Per 



cent. 

 95.3 

 94.2 

 89.8 



95.3 

 94.6 



90.7 



95.2 

 91.1 

 88.3 



95.6 

 93.1 

 89.4 



94.5 

 91.4 

 S4.1 



96.3 

 96.4 

 94.4 



96.9 

 95.9 

 93.1 



An inspection of the table shows that where the cereals were 

 used with a mixed diet, they had but little apparent effect upon 

 the digestibility of the total food. As regards the digestibility 

 of the total organic matter, the corn products made a very favor- 

 able showing. At the same time a larger proportion of the 

 energy of the food was utilized by the body than where the wheat 

 and oat products were used. On the other hand, the use of the 

 corn foods seemed to depress the digestibility of the protein of 

 the total food. 



When the simple diet was used, the corn products again made 

 a favorable showing as regards both total organic matter and 

 energy, least favorable of all, however, in digestibility of pro- 

 tein. If we value these foods in proportion to the digestibility 

 of iheir protein when used with a mixed diet, we must place 

 rolled wheat first and the corn products last. When the digesti- 

 bility of the cereals alone is calculated, more striking results are 

 obtained. It will be noticed that the rolled wheat now ranks 



