248 
Journal 0} Agricultural Research voi. xxvii, no. 5 
and essential feature in the action of the alkali. As a result, the intestinal bacteria 
of animals are enabled to attack the cellulose and split it up into simpler substances, 
such as sugars and organic acids which can then be utilized by the animal organism. 
These changes take place at ordinary temperatures and the maximum 
action of the alkali is reached in a comparatively short time. It should 
be said, in addition, that coincident with these favorable changes there 
is more or less destruction of pentosans and cellulose by the alkali, 
but in the improved process patented by Beckmann (3) this unfavorable 
action is held at a minimum. 
Neger (33) has advanced the idea that the mechanical effect of the 
alkali on the straw is also important, the middle lamella of the cell 
wall being dissolved and the thick-walled cells separated from one another. 
The action of calcium hydroxid is similar to that of sodium hydroxid, 
but is less marked, the lignin and silicic acid being less attacked. 
development op the process of ‘hydrolysis of fiber 
An endeavor has been made to cover the subject matter on this par¬ 
ticular phase of the problem as completely as possible. 
Practically all the work of developing a suitable process of fiber hydrol¬ 
ysis has been carried on in Germany, straw being the material generally 
used. Although many of the investigations were a result of the acute 
food shortage in that country during the war, the idea of utilizing 
processed fiber as an animal or even a human food is by no means a new 
one. 
As early as 1865 Hellriegel and Lucanus (19) investigated the feeding 
value of straw which had been chopped up, moistened, and allowed to 
heat spontaneously. They concluded that such treatment diminished 
somewhat the food value of the straw. 
In 1890 Henneberg and Lehmann (27) carried on feeding experiments 
with crude fiber prepared from rye straw by the action of sodium hy¬ 
droxid. They concluded that cellulose prepared in this way was nearly 
equal in value as an albuminoid conserver to the easily soluble carbo¬ 
hydrates, and also that cellulose aided in fat production. 
In 1894 Lehmann, as reported by Kellner (26, p. 288 ), showed that 
the food value of straw could be increased by cooking it with caustic 
soda in ordinary open kettles. In 1902 (28) he modified his process and 
made use of the pressure cookers of the paper industry, heating the straw 
and soda lye under pressure for several hours. The digestibility of straw 
thus treated was raised from 42 per cent to 56 to 60 per cent. However, 
the process has not come into general use. 
In 1899 Kellner (26 , p. 288) observed that rye straw hydrolyzed by the 
process used in paper manufacture had a digestibility of 88 per cent and 
was capable of producing more fat in ruminants than pure potato starch. 
In 1906 Ustiantzev (44) found that cellulose from straw freed from 
incrusting substances had a decided food value and was equal to isody¬ 
namic quantities of starch and sugar as a protector of protein and fat. 
When fed to both rabbits and sheep it was almost completely digested. 
Altmannsberger (1) in 1907 fed sheep with straw that had been treated 
with sodium hydroxid under pressure and found that the straw was 
readily eaten and that the digestibility of the crude fiber and ash had 
been materially increased. 
About the same time, Diffloth (10) published data showing the increased 
value as a feeding stuff of straw from which the incrusting substance had 
been removed. 
