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BULLETIN 77, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 



Discussion of the conduct and results of the vitamin tests 



The results of the vitamin tests are summarized in Tables 9, 10, 11, 

 12, 13 and 14, and by means of Figures 14, 15 and 16. The explanatory 

 statements and discussion which follow are given for the benefit of 

 those interested in the details and technique of vitamin testing. 



Vitamin A. 



The average gain of the 36 positive controls fed carotene for 6 weeks 

 was 87 grams. 



Figs: The average gain of the 4 positive controls fed carotene is 

 less than the average given above probably because all 4 rats were 

 females. The 10 rats fed 5 grams of figs gained uniformly. 



Guavas: For the feeding experiments, guavas were prepared twice 

 a week by scooping out the inner portion from 3 or more guavas, 

 separating the seeds from the pulp by pressing in an 18-mesh sieve and 

 adding the sieved pulp to the finely chopped outer rind. 



Although there was good division of the sexes, the average gain of 

 the 7 rats fed carotene was greater than any other group of positive 

 controls. One rat fed carotene is not included in the summary or 

 curves because it died 32 days after the supplement was started. 



One rat fed 2 grams of guavas and 2 fed 1 gram are not included 

 in the summary or curves because they died 16, 20 and 30 days after 

 the supplements were started. 



The results of feeding 4 grams of guava jelly (equivalent to 3 cc. 

 of guava juice) to 8 rats are not included in the summary or curves 

 because the rats lived no longer than the control. 



Papayas: It should be noted that the data for the rats fed papaya 

 are for a 5-week feeding period whereas all others except one group 

 fed pohas are for a 6-week feeding period. 



One rat fed 0.1 gram papaya and 1 positive control fed carotene are 

 not included in the summary or curves because they died 33 and 14 days 

 after the supplements were started. 



Pineapple: Two rats fed 3 grams of pineapple are not included in 

 the curves and summary because they died 20 and 38 days after the 

 supplements were started. Three rats fed 2 grams of pineapple were 

 not included because they died 31, 24 and 25 days after the supple- 

 ments were started. 



Polias: One positive control that lost weight rapidly toward the 

 end of the experiment is not included in the summary and curves as 

 all the other 8 gained uniformly and well. 



Four rats were fed the supplement of 0.1 gram of pohas for 5 weeks 

 instead of 6 weeks because the fruit was not available. 



Sour sop and tamarinds: Because the flesh of the sour sop appears 

 to have no yellow pigment it was not tested for vitamin A. Tamarinds 

 appear to be low in vitamin A as 3 rats fed 1 gram of tamarind died 



