44i 
Sept. 2, 1918 Comparative Toxicity of Cottonseed Products 
The prompt effect of the diets of lots 5 and 6 on the health of the fowls 
indicates the highly toxic character of raw cottonseed and the gossypol 
therefrom. The effects of the other diet appeared after so long a period 
that possibly other factors may have been the cause of death in lots 
3 and 4. But it will be noted that diet 3 was the poorest with respect 
to supplemental feeds of animal origin. Lot 4 received 40 per cent of 
ether-extracted cottonseed kernels, which is equivalent to about 55 per 
cent cottonseed meal, on the basis of the nitrogen content. This diet 
was therefore higher both in total protein and cottonseed protein. How¬ 
ever, the fact that even this material has been found to be slightly toxic 
to rabbits and pigs would indicate that a toxic factor came into play. 
It was singular, however, that this lot was the only lot in which eggs 
were laid in the first part of the experiment. (See Table VI.) 
To judge the results of the experiment by the effect on egg laying, the 
diet containing the ether-extracted cottonseed kernels, lot 4, was the 
least injurious of all during the first three months, while this relation 
was reversed with respect to cottonseed-meal lets during the last three 
months. 
(Tabi*® VI .—Egg record (by months) of hens fed cottonseed products 
Lot No. 
Food compared. 
Dec. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May. 
Total. 
1 
40 per cent cottonseed meal.. 
0 
O 
0 
32 
3 1 
7 
70 
2 
30 per cent cottonseed meal.. 
3 
3 
0 
8 
34 
11 
59 
3 
.do. 
0 
0 
0 
6 
25 
0 
3 1 
* 4 
40 per cent extracted cotton¬ 
seed kernels. 
*3 
17 
29 
0 
2 
0 
61 
c 
0.2 per cent gossypol. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
D 
6 
3o*per cent raw cottonseed 
kernels. 
1 
1 
0 
10 
11 
Another noteworthy feature, indicating the high resistance of fowls, 
was the fact that the short-cooked meal, which was found distinctly 
more injurious to rabbits and swine, had no more effect on the fowls 
than the long-cooked meal. 
AMOUNT OF FEED EATEN BY EACH LOT 
The birds in these experiments were accustomed gradually* to the diet. 
The amounts fed were gradually increased to a maximum of 0.9 pound (408 
gm.) per lot per day of feed 81.7 gm. per bird containing from 24 to 32 gm. 
of cottonseed product. The diets of lots 5 and 6 were but poorly 
consumed, and there was consequently a steady loss in weight. The 
other feeds were eaten regularly, although at the end the birds in lot 4 
were losing appetite. The record of the feed eaten is given in Table VII. 
