Aug. 15, 1925 
Effect of Sodium in a Wheat Ration 
369 
The first young rats from this calcium-chloride mother, and two 
young stock rats, were divided into two lots, one of which (lot A) 
received the calcium-chloride ration, and the other (lot B) received 
the 0.1 gm. sodium chloride and 0.4 gm. calcium-chloride ration. 
In this plan it will be seen that the probability of the transmission 
of any beneficial stabilizing influence which might have originally 
been present through the use of other foodstuffs was greatly reduced. 
In the remaining six rations of this experiment 0.5 gm. of calcium 
chloride and a varying amount of sodium in the form of sodium 
bicarbonate were added to the basal ration as follows: Per cent, 
Na: (A), 0.228; (B), 0.260; (C), 0.287; (D), 0.354; (E), 0.525; (F) 
0.785; (G), 1.29; and (H), 2.58. The rations contained 0.21 per cent 
calcium and 0.27 per cent chlorine. In all other respects the rations 
were alike. 
The wheat was finely ground. The gluten used had the qualities 
specified by the patent taken out by one of the writers (22). The 
butterfat was carefully prepared by filtering out the casein and washing 
out the salts. 
Figure 1 gives the composite growth curves, for the eight different 
rations. 
The curve for ration A is the average of four closely agreeing curves 
and it will be noted that it is decidedly flat in comparison with the 
normal growth curve. There was no successful production of young 
on this ration and apparently only one conception. 
The curve for ration B shows much better growth than for A, and 
in fact follows the normal-growth curve for more than four weeks. 
Young were successfully produced on this ration, and they in turn 
produced a third generation. 
For ration C the curve shows better growth than for B, as it quite 
closely approaches the normal-growth curve for 16 weeks. One 
vigorous litter of young was produced and later a second litter by 
the same mother. Another female produced seven young which 
were all lost. The first litter mentioned produced a third generation. 
The curve for ration D is practically identical with that for C for 
10 weeks. Three litters of young were born within a week and a 
fourth shortly after. Three second fitters were produced later. 
The curve for E shows that this ration produced the best growth 
of any of the rations in this series. Vigorous young were produced 
on this ration. 
The F curve shows a less rapid gain than the preceding rations, 
although the gains were the most economical, as noted elsewhere. 
One satisfactory fitter of young was produced. 
The G curve is quite similar to the F curve but no young were 
produced. 
The curve for ration H is flat, although it is somewhat better than 
for A, at least up to six months. One fitter of young was produced 
after the point at which the curve ends, when the mother was about 
a year old. One of these young died at 2 months and one at 3J^ 
months, the latter weighing 32 gms. Two were alive at 5 months, 
one weighing 103 gms. and one 56 gms. 
Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 show the composite curves for males and for 
females on rations A to E, respectively. In the remaining rations the 
two curves (not shown) are practically identical. 
