5^2 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. V, No. 13 
ciently narrow nutritive ratio to serve excellently for milk production. 
Goat 2, weighing 81 pounds, was fed from 1.5 to 2 pounds of oats, 0.5 
to 0.75 pound of June-grass hay, and 1 gm. of common salt daily, 
though the latter was often refused. Great care was taken that any 
variations in salt intake were not of sufficient moment to influence the 
character of the results obtained. Data obtained during periods of low 
consumption or of unusual restlessness of the animal were discarded, as 
such conditions obviously disturb the milk secretion. Everything possi¬ 
ble was done to contribute to the comfort of the experimental animal, 
in accordance with good dairy practice. 
First, it was desired to ascertain if specific diuretics were able at all to 
influence the volume of milk secreted. At the same time in some 
instances determinations of the total solids and nitrogen in the milk were 
made. As it was suggested in the publication referred to that the salts 
of the alfalfa ration might have been responsible for the diuresis, sodium 
acetate was the diuretic selected for the first trials. It was given per 
os to goat 1, at first with her drinking water, but later, as larger amounts 
were given, as a drench immediately after each milking. During a 
4-day period, when there were administered, respectively, 20, 20, 50, 
and 50 gm. of sodium acetate daily, no diuresis resulted and no change 
in the milk volume occurred. It was not until the dose was increased 
to 80 gm. that the milk flow was materially affected, but even here, as 
seen in Table I, the diuresis was not pronounced. 
» 
Table I .—Effect of sodium acetate on milk flow of goat 1 
Date. 
Water. 
Urine. 
Milk. 
Solids. 
Nitrogen 
in s c. c. 
Remarks. 
Nov. 24. 
25. 
C. c. 
2 , 95 ° 
2, 000 
C. c. 
i, 1 50 
750 
C. c. 
860 
830 
Per cent. 
15.89 
16. 40 
Mem* 
34 - 7 
35 - 7 
No additions to ration. 
Do. 
26. 
3,000 
2,700 
1,250 
1,250 
880 
15.84 
3 1 -5 
33.7 
Do. 
270. 
610 
18.22 
Collection from 80 gm. of 
28 &. 
2,000 
1,400 
660 
17.89 
31.5 
sodium acetate. 
Collection from 100 gm. 
29 *. 
725 
450 
9 2 5 
14 - 34 
30.0 
of sodium acetate. 
No additions to ration. 
. 
2, 950 
1,670 
635 
930 
15-25 
3 i -4 
Do. 
Dec. 1. 
760 
985 
15-39 
34 -o 
Do. 
a Small amount of the casein beet mixture not consumed. 
& No casein or beets consumed. 
c No casein or beets given; 12 ounces oats left unconsumed, 
d No casein given. 
An increase in percentage of the solids in milk with the decrease in 
volume is pronounced, while the nitrogen content is unaffected. (See 
p. 566.) While the indications from the data on the administration of 
sodium acetate are that the volume of milk flow is decreased with diu¬ 
resis, yet with the administration of such large amounts of' the salt 
as was found necessary, too severe disturbances of the appetite resulted 
