PRAIRIE FARMER'S POULTRY BOOK 



peptone is a poison to the system, therefore it is carried by the 

 portal circulation to the liver, which has the power to change 

 it to albumin, which is at once assimilated by the blood, and 

 this carries it to the cells to be used by them in building 

 tissues. 



If there is an excess of protein taken in the food and an 

 excess of peptone formed, then the liver is overworked. Some 

 of the peptone may go into the circulation to poison the 

 system. The liver becomes congested and there may follow 

 a train of liver diseases and gout or rheumatism, causing the 

 loss of the fowl. Further, uric acid is a nitrogenous compound 

 and is produced in excessive quantity when there is an excess 

 of protein in the food, as often happens in the liberal use of 

 tankage. 



As the uric acid is eliminated by the kidneys, they are 

 overworked with resulting congestion and disease. Thus we 

 learn the importance of a balanced ration in which there is a 

 due proportion of protein and carbohydrate. Many illustra- 

 tions of this nature may be drawn from the digestive system 

 alone. 



The Workmen 



What are the workmen in the great factory? It is true 

 that an organ of the animal body may function as a unit to 

 perform a definite work, as, for example, the eye performs the 

 function of sight; but the eye is made up of tissues, such as 

 epithelial, muscular, connective and nervous, and each of these 

 has a definite work to do. The tissues also are made up of cells 

 and each cell plays a part in accomplishing the desired end. If 

 the cells should break down there would be failure all along 

 the line. The cells, therefore, are the real workers, and their 

 functioning makes possible the organism, for cells make 

 tissues, tissues make organs, and organs make up the 

 organism, or living bird. The cell is the working unit, just as 

 is the individual in the industrial concern. 



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