﻿4 BULLETIN 1138, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



growth, had no young, and died early. Rats fed a ration consisting 

 of ox muscle, calcium carbonate, sodium chlorid and 3 per cent 

 butterfat grew at practically the normal rate and appeared healthy. 

 When rats were fed a ration containing 50 per cent ox muscle and 3 

 per cent butterfat, they made normal growth. Rats were raised 

 to the third generation on this diet with reasonable success. Another 

 lot of rats, fed for a period exclusively on ox muscle, made but little 

 growth. The addition of sodium chlorid and calcium carbonate to 

 the diet was followed by a slight response in growth. Rats fed a 

 ration containing 50 per cent ox muscle, sodium and potassium 

 chlorids, calcium carbonate, dextrin, and butterfat made normal 

 growth and the second and third generations were raised successfully 

 on this diet. 



EXPERIMENTAL WORK. 



METHODS EMPLOYED. 



The purpose of the experiments reported in Part I of this paper 

 was to ascertain the antineuritic properties of the voluntary muscle 

 of the ox, sheep, and hog when fed to pigeons in connection with 

 polished rice. The pigeons used were of the homer type, healthy, 

 mature birds weighing between 300 and 400 grams being selected. 

 Four or five birds were fed each ration at the start, but occasionally a 

 bird would have to be removed during the test on account of an injury. 



Fig. 1. — Method of feeding the pigeons. 



The pigeons were weighed individually before feeding on the first 

 day of the test and at approximately weekly intervals thereafter, 

 always before feeding. Each bird was fed daily, except Sunday, a 

 ration amounting to 5 per cent by weight of the initial weight of the 

 pigeon. Forced feeding was practiced throughout the experiments. 

 The ration was fed into the crop of the pigeon through a Gooch 

 funnel having a bowl 1£ inches in diameter and a stem 3 inches long 

 with an inside diameter of \ inch, a glass rod being used as a plunger. 



