722 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXIII, No. 9 
Test No. 2. —White Plymouth Rock hen, leg band No. 142, weight 6.8 pounds. 
8 a. m. Fed 20 gm. wheat middlings mixed with water and lampblack. 
4 p. m. Fed 20 gm. wheat middlings with water and lampblack. 
6p.m. First excreta passed; lampblack stained excreta. 
8 a. m. Second day. 20 gm. middlings given. 
6 p. m. Fed 20 gm. middlings. Excreta still black. 
8 a. m. Third day. 20 gm. middlings §iven. Excreta nearly normal; only 
small amount of lampblack on the outside, inside of mass not containing any. 
6 p. m. 20 gm. middlings. 
8 a. m. Fourth day. After 72 hours excreta normal. 
In this test the first voiding of excreta after the feeding of the lampblack was at 
6 p. m., or 10 hours. At this time lampblack in small amounts appeared. 
All lampblack had disappeared at the end of 72 hours. 
Test No. 3.—White Plymouth Rock hen, leg band No. Bio, weight, 6.14 pounds. 
7 a. m. Fed 10 gm. wheat middlings mixed with water and lampblack. 
1 p. m. First evacuation; excreta black. 
2 p. m. Second evacuation; excreta black. 
7 a. m. Fourth day; excreta free from black. 
Lampblack appeared in 6 hours and disappeared in 72 hours. This test was run 
with a broody hen. 
Test No. 4.—White Plymouth Rock hen, leg band No. 473, weight, 5.14 pounds. 
7 a. m. Fed 10 gm. wheat middlings mixed with water and lampblack. 
4p.m. Fed 20 gm. middlings, no lampblack. No excreta were voided on the 
first day after feeding with lampblack. 
7 a. m. Second day. First evacuation; excreta black. 
7.30 a. m. Second evacuation; excreta black. This bird acted as though con¬ 
stipated, since no further excreta were voided till morning of the fourth day, 
or 72 hours. No lampblack was present in these last excreta. 
Owing to the fact that no excreta were voided on the day of feeding of the middlings 
and lampblack, it is impossible to tell how long it required for the lampblack 
to pass the entire length of the digestive tract. The fact that the excreta were 
free from lampblack on the fourth day and after the 72 hours showed this test 
to be in line with those above. This test was run with a broody hen. 
Test No. 5.—White Plymouth Rock hen, leg band No. B148, weight, 6 pounds. 
7 a. m. Fed 10 gm. wheat middlings mixed with water and lampblack. 
4 p. m. Fed 20 gm. middlings. 
7 p. m. Fed 20 gm. middlings. 
9 p. m. First excreta voided; excreta black. 
7 a. m. Fourth day. Excreta after 72 hours normal; no lampblack. 
This test was run on a broody hen. First excreta voided in 14 hours and showed 
lampblack. Lampblack traces disappeared after 72 hours. 
Test No. 6. —Single Comb'White Leghorn hen, in laying condition, leg band No. 34, 
weight, 2.8 pounds. 
7 a. m. Fed 20 gm. wheat middlings mixed with water and lampblack. 
10.30 a. m. First excreta voided; excreta black. 
11.20 a. m. Excreta voided; same color as at 10.30 a. m. 
7 a. m. Fourth day. After 72 hours excreta normal. 
Excreta showed in 3.5 hours that food had passed the entire length of the intestinal 
tract. 
Test No. 7.—Chick, leg band No. 32, weight, 2 pounds. 
7 a. m. Fed 10 gm. wheat middlings mixed with water and lampblack. 
10.50 a. m. First excreta voided; excreta black. 
7a.m. Fourth day. After 72 hours excreta normal. 
The indicator suggests the food passing through this 2-pound broiler chick in 4 
hours. 
Test No. 8. —Chick, leg band No. 36, weight, 1.8 pounds. 
7 a. m. 20 gm. wheat middlings given mixed with water and lampblack. 
10.55 a. m. First excreta voided; trace of lampblack. 
11.40a.m. Second excreta voided; excreta black. 
7 a. m. Fourth day. After 72 hours excreta normal. 
In this test the excreta voided indicated that the food had passed through the 
digestive tract in approximately 4 hours. 
