284 



MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



and there was found to be practically no difference in the two 

 methods, as is shown by the following table. Certainly nitrogen 

 compounds that would be thrown down by the hydrate of copper 

 are but slightly, if at all, brought into the solution by the hot 

 water. 





In water-free substance. 



Excrement from 



o 9 



Nitrogen in resi- 

 due after extraction 

 by Method B. 



Nitrogen in residue 

 after extraction by 

 Method B, copper 

 hydrate added to 

 water solution. 



Timothy, Early (Jut, Sheep 1 .... . 



Sheep 2 



Eed Top Wheat Bran, Sheep 3 



Sheep 4 . 



Ted Top Fancy Middlings, Sheep 1 



Sheep 2 



1.54 

 1.62 

 1.74 

 1.60 

 2.02 

 2.11 



1.03 

 1.12 

 1.26 

 1.30 

 1.42 

 1.45 



1.04 • 

 1.14 

 1.36 

 1.25 

 1 48 

 1.53 . 



The existence of amide compounds in the faeces, such as acid 

 amides or amido-acids, can be detected by the action of nitrous 

 acid, compounds of this class being decomposed with the evolu- 

 tion of free nitrogen. 



In three cases a determination has been made of the amount of 

 nitrogen obtained by the action of nitrous acid upon the alcohol 

 and hot water extracts from the faeces, and the figures given be- 

 low show that only a very small quantity of true amides was pres- 

 ent : 



Excrement from 



Amide .nitrogen 



from alcoholic 



extract, 5 grams 



substance. 



Amide nitrogen 

 from hot water 

 extract. 5 grams 

 substance. 



.92c.c. 

 1.62 c.c. 



3.00 c.c. 



Total per cent, 

 amide nitro- 

 gen in feces. 



39 c.c. 

 62 c.c. 



1.82 c.c. 



0/ 



/o 



.058 



.08 



.12 



Eed Top 



Field Corn 



Eed I'op, \ 



Fancy Middlings, / 



The test for peptones was found to be somewhat difficult and 

 unsatisfactory because of the fact that the phospho-tungstic acid 

 precipiated such a variety of compounds in the faecal extract. It 

 was found, however, after clearing the solution supposed to con- 

 tain the peptones as much as possible by the action of other pre- 

 cipitants, that the precipitated formed from the addition of phos- 

 pho-tungstic acid contained but a very small amount of nitrogen, 



