830 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXIII, No. io 
on its feet. Upon this date it received i gm. of Azotobacter and on the 
following day it was up on its feet but still lame. On July 31 it was fed 
another gram. Its recovery was practically complete, with the excep¬ 
tion of a slight lameness in one leg. Symptoms of polyneuritis were 
again evident on August 6, by lameness and inability to stand on its feet. 
It was fed 1 gm. of Azotobacter in the morning of this date. Marked 
improvement was shown by evening, and the next morning it was up on 
its feet feeding about the pen. On August 8 the pigeon appeared in 
normal health, with the exception of a slight lameness in one leg. The 
experiment was discontinued on this date and no further observations 
were made. 
Very pronounced symptoms of polyneuritis appeared in pigeon 3742 
on July 4. It was given on this date 1 gm. of Azotobacter. The next 
day it was on its feet and was given 0.5 gm. Its recovery was seemingly 
complete. On July 14 it again developed “limberneck” and leg weak¬ 
ness and died that night. This time it received no Azotobacter. 
Pigeon 3740 developed very pronounced symptoms of polyneuritis on 
July 27 in the form of “limberneck” and inability to stand or walk. 
One gram of Azotobacter was given it on this date. Much improvement 
was noted the following day. On July 29 it received another gram and 
the following day 0.5 gm. Marked improvement followed, and to all 
outward appearances recovery was complete. It developed leg weakness 
but no “limbemeck” the morning of August 6. At this time it received 
another gram of Azotobacter, and this dose was repeated again in the 
evening. The following morning it was up and feeding about the pen. 
No further observations were made, as the experiment was discontinued. 
Pigeon 3741 developed typical polyneuritis July 25, exhibiting the 
characteristic “limbemeck” and leg weakness. It was given on July 
27, 1 gm. of Azotobacter. Improvement was noted the following day. 
It was fed another gram on July 29, although its improvement was 
marked, and on July 30 it received 0.5 gm. To all general appearances 
it was normal the next day. 
That Azotobacter exerts a pronounced curative effect upon pigeons 
affected with polyneuritis seems conclusive. 
CONCLUSIONS 
(1) If a growth-promoting substance is a requirement for Azotobacter 
development, it is capable of manufacturing such. 
(2) The Azotobacter can synthesize a food accessory factor similar to 
water-soluble B. 
(3) This food accessory factor stimulated a greater net gain in white 
rats than did baker’s yeast. 
(4) Azotobacter exerts a pronounced curative effect upon pigeons 
affected with polyneuritis. 
