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. : 7 
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. 
Fic. 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 bow! 14 inches in diameter and a stem 3 inches long 
with an inside diameter of } inch, a glass rod being used as a plunger. 
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