58 Miss H. Chick and Miss E. M. Hume. The Substance, the 



Table VII. — Influence of Addition of Extra Protein (Casein) to a Diet of 

 Polished Kice, upon the Onset of Polyneuritis in Pigeons (300 — 400 grm. 

 weight). 



Casein 

 ration 

 daily. 



Rice* 

 ration 

 daily. 



Total 

 protein 

 given 

 daily. 



No. 

 of 

 bird. 



Time elapsing 

 before onset of 

 polyneuritis. 



Weight 

 Original. 



of bird. 

 Final. 



Change in weight 

 during period 

 of experiment. 











days. 



mean, 









mean, 



grm. 



gi-m. 



grm. 







days. 







per cent. 



per cent. 







About 35 



2-4 



107 



19 





369 



292 



-21 









108 



21 





469 



339 



-28 











109 



22 



21 



427 



395 



- 8 



-19 







About 40 



2 -8 



104 



23 





300 



267 



-11 











105 



19 





359 



287 



-20 











108 



16 



19 



339 



295 



-13 



-14 



1 -5 



35 



3-9 



110 



27 





365 



305 



-17 











111 



20 





365 



289 



-21 











112 



21 





382 



335 



-12 











113 



18 



21 -5 



352 



300 



-15 



-16 



3-0 



35 



5-4 



114 



25 





395 



340 



-14 











115 



18 





365 



362 



- 1 











116 



14 





392 



385 



- 2 











117 



22 



20 



394 



345 



-12 



- 7 



* Protein content = 6 "9 per cent. ('Bulletin No. 45, U.S. Department of Agriculture'; 

 Tibbie's "Foods," 1912, p. 474). 



A ration of wheat germ equal to 4 grm. every second day, which is slightly 

 in excess of that necessary to prevent polyneuritis, had a marked beneficial 

 influence upon the general health and well-being of the birds (Expt. 5, 

 Table I). When this allowance was further exceeded, as in Expt. 6, Table I, 

 where 3 grm. wheat germ were given daily, the effect was even more noticeable. 

 The increase in weight of the two birds employed amounted, in a period of 

 two months, to 25 and 35 per cent, respectively of their original weight, and 

 the birds displayed unusual energy and vitality. They became wilder and 

 more quarrelsome ; they could not be kept together in one cage, as was our 

 custom, seeing that they fought one another with great vigour, if permitted. 

 They would also resist being taken up and examined, and if the cage were 

 opened, would usually take up a sideways position at bay, striking out with 

 the wing against any invader. All this demeanour is in very marked contrast 

 to the gentleness characteristic of birds which are artificially fed and subjected 

 to the large amount of handling which is involved in this type of experiment. 



