Nov. i St 1915 Gossypol , the Toxic Substance in Cottonseed Meal 283 
TOXICITY OF AN ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF GASOLINE-ETHER-EXTRACTED 
KERNELS (FEED 330) 
The solution obtained by treating gasoline-ether-extracted cottonseed 
kernels with hot alcohol was evaporated to a small volume over a water 
bath. The extract was about 10 to 12 per cent of the kernels. As the 
solution was concentrated, it separated into a yellowish layer (probably 
chiefly raffinose) and a reddish black resinous layer. The concentrated 
solution was mixed with corn meal, dried, and pulverized. This feed had 
a yellow-brown color and a very bitter taste. It was fed to two rabbits 
(969 and 970) in amounts equivalent to 50 gm. of cottonseed daily. It 
did not prove to be toxic, although the rabbits lost slightly in weight 
and frequently left part of their feed, possibly on account of its bitter 
taste. On the fourth day of feeding a slight diarrhea was noticed in 
both animals. They were quite normal after having been on the feed 
for 26 days, when it was discontinued (Table XIV). 
Table XIV .—Results of feeding an alcoholic extract of gasoline-ether-extracted cottonseed 
kernels {feed 330) to rabbits 
Rabbit No. 
Weight of rabbit. 
Weight of 
feed 
eaten. 
Equiva¬ 
lent of 
Number 
of days 
fed. 
Result. 
Initial. 
Final. 
Loss. 
feed eaten 
as kernels 
o 6 o. 
Gm . 
us 30 
1,650 
Gm. 
1,475 
Gm. 
55 
i 35 
o- 
Gm. 
243 
214 
Gm. 
I, OOO 
26 
lived. 
y v y • * . 
070 .*. 
900 
26 
Do. 
y/ w . 
These two animals were then fed on the material from which the 
extract was obtained (see feed 316). 
The presence of some gossypol due to the incomplete extraction by 
ether doubtless causes the slight toxicity of feed 316. 
The nontoxicity of feed 330 may be explained on the assumption that 
the gossypol, extracted from feed 316 by alcohol, undergoes oxidation 
during the process of extraction or evaporation. This point needs fur¬ 
ther study (see feed 338). 
Both the alcoholic extract and oxidized gossypol possess a bitter 
taste, whereas gossypol and gossypol “ acetate ” are tasteless and odorless. 
ARE OTHER TOXIC SUBSTANCES PRESENT? 
Although the feeding experiments show that gossypol is very poisonous, 
produces symptoms of cottonseed-meal poisoning, and affords a satis¬ 
factory explanation of the toxic properties of cottonseed meal, we do 
not claim to have made a complete study of the cottonseed from the 
standpoint of toxicity. The following problems are still unsolved: 
(1) To exactly what extent does gossypol occur in cottonseed—i. e., 
in the petroleum extract and in the ether-extracted residue—and is 
gossypol the only toxic substance of like nature in the gossypol extract ? 
