190 CHAMBERLAIN, BLOOMBERGH, KILBOURNE. 



GROUP C. FOUR FOWLS SUBSISTING OJNT UNHUSKED BICE. 



Class 12. Fed on palay or padi. — Altliougli unhiiskecl rice has been proved by 

 numerous experiments outside of the Philippines to prevent polyneuritis gal- 

 linariun, we undertook these tests with the native Maean unhusked rice to see 

 whether or not it possessed the same qualities as the padi of other countries and 

 to control the experiments of classes 1, 2, and 9 which were going on simul- 

 taneously. 



Eighty-one grams of imhusked rice, called palay in the native Tagalog dialect, 

 were fed daily to each of four fowls and all remained well to the end of the 

 experiment, 79 days, and showed no abnormal signs. (Numbers 13, 14, 15, 

 and 16.) 



A loss of 17.9 per cent and 18.9 per cent of body weight occurred in two of 

 the birds and a gain of 0.6 per cent and 5.6 per cent in the others. 



GROUP D. TEN- FOWLS UNDERGOING STARVATION. 



As our experiments progressed we noticed that the development of 

 neuritis was invariably accompanied by a considerable loss of weight. 

 In no case did a fowl acquire the disease while gaining or while remain- 

 ing stationary in weight, indeed, a reduction of 21 per cent or more, 

 except in the cases of fowls numbers 2 and 20, seemed a necessary 

 accompaniment of neuritis. In consequence we decided to feed some 

 fowls reduced amounts of a neuritis-preventing rice and to give others 

 water alone, with the purpose of producing, if possible, a neuritis as a 

 result of partial or complete starvation. That this was accomplished is 

 shown by the following experiments. 



Class 13. Fed on undermilled rice with yellowish-tohite pericarp. Fifty-two 

 grams (one-half usual allowance) daily for 1/3 days; followed hy 26 grams for 

 47 days and 13 grams for 25 days. — One fowl (number 18) was fed 52 grams 

 daily of the neuritis-preventing rice used in class 9, this amount being one-half 

 the daily allowance given the fowls in that class, all of which remained healthy. 



With this amount he was able to almost maintain his original weight, losing 

 only a small amount in 43 days. The quantity of rice given was then reduced 

 to 26 grams and from that time a considerable loss of weight occurred, but to 

 hasten the result this was further reduced to 13 grams on the 90th day. 



The fowl continued in good condition, except for general weakness which began 

 to be evident about the 90th day, until the 107th day when weakness was 

 particularly manifest in the legs. On the 115th day he was unable to rise, 

 whether from neuritis or general weakness we were unable to say. To determine 

 if possible the condition of his nerves he was then given palay and kitchen stuff 

 and rapidly improved except in the legs. He became strong enough to stand, 

 ate well and seemed bright and interested in his surroundings, hut had the 

 typical gait and leg signs of neuritis, which became more marked during the two 

 or three days following resumption of mixed diet. He died suddenly on the 122d 

 day. His characteristic attitude is well shown in the pictures, figures 9 and 10. 



On microscopic examination his sciatic nerves showed slight degenerative 

 changes. 



When sig-ns of neuritis were unmistakable he had lost 46.6 per cent of body 

 weight; at death he had lost 49.4 per cent. His weight curve is shown on Chart 

 5 as number 18. 



