Feb. 23, 1924 
Utilization of Lactose by the Chicken 
603 
Since the method of extraction was always the same, that is, the number 
of extractions and the quantity and temperature of the water were exactly 
the same in all cases, it follows that the amounts of reducing substances 
excreted by each hen during the different weekly periods on the ordinary 
cereal diet were not constant. The average amount of reducing sub¬ 
stances excreted by each hen during seven days was, by the Benedict 
method, 1.10 gm., and by the Munson-Walker-Bertrand method, 2.70 
gm., expressed as lactose. If, therefore, we use these average figures as 
representing the grams of reducing substances originating from the basal 
ration in the extract of any seven-day collection of excreta, the percent¬ 
ages of lactose absorbed, when varying quantities of lactose were fed, 
may be calculated as shown in Table IV. 
' Table IV .—Percentage absorption of lactose 
T ‘ 
Percentage of lactose absorbed when the following quantities were fed— 
Hen No. 
2 gm. 
1 
6 gm. 
18 gm. 
24 gm. 
Benedict 
method. 
Munson- 
Walker- 
Bertrand 
method. 
Benedict 
method. 
Munson- 
Walker- 
Bertrand 
method. 
Benedict 
method. 
Munson- 
Walker- 
Bertrand 
method. 
Benedict 
method • 
Munson- 
Walker- 
Bertrand 
method. 
1. 
IOO 
i 
IOO 
90 
IOO 
85 
85 
97 
98 
2 
IOO 
IOO 
IOO 
IOO 
85 
82 
83 
77 
3 . 
IOO 
IOO 
IOO 
IOO 
84 
87 
90 
86 
4. 
IOO 
IOO 
88 
IOO 
6 3 
55 
75 
! 73 
Table IV is self-explanatory; it shows that hens will utilize lactose 
up to 8 gm. daily fairly completely. Attempts to feed larger quantities 
failed because the hens would not voluntarily eat their mash when more 
than 8 gm. had been mixed with it. Even when 8 gm. were fed daily it 
was necessary to force-feed much of the mash on the third day to all hens. 
This was probably due to the severe diarrhea caused by this quantity 
of lactose when fed in this form. Because of the severe diarrhea it was 
not considered wise to attempt to feed larger amounts. 
The difficulties experienced in these experiments in inducing the 
chickens to consume large quantities of pure lactose when mixed with the 
feed, and the severe diarrhea always obtained when even 8 gm. a day 
were consumed, are in striking contrast to the experience of Plimmer 
and Rosedale (5). These investigators fed a diet containing secwa (a dried 
whey preparation containing 74.5 per cent lactose) to chickens from 
birth for a period exceeding four months. The amount of secwa in the 
diet was usually 25 per cent but in some cases was even higher. The 
quantity of lactose consumed in this form by each bird was as high as 
22 gm. daily. Good gains were obtained and the health of the birds was 
excellent throughout the experiment. No reasonable explanation of 
these differences occurs to us. 
