794 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXXI, No. 8 
Table I .—Record of 'pigeons by periods 
Length 
of 
period 
Initial 
weight 
Gain (+) 
or 
loss (—) 
Pigeon No. 8: 
Days 
Grams 
Grams 
Period A... 
41 
299 
-86 
Period B..... 
49 
213 
+28 
Period C___ 
21 
241 
-18 
Period D.. 
35 
223 
+9 
Period E_... 
42 
232 
+38 
Pigeon No. 1: 
Period A_____ 
7 
320 
-30 
Period B... 
63 
290 
-17 
Period C.-... 
70 
273 
+7 
Period D__ 
14 
280 
-43 
Period E... 
77 
237 
+5 
Pigeon No. 14: 
Period A... 
70 
278 
-50 
Period B...... 
70 
228 
+22 
Period C... 
21 
250 
-80 
Pigeon No. 13: 
Period A.... 
77 
268 
-13 
Period B..... 
28 
255 
+8 
Pigeon No. 17___ 
17 
323 
-130 
Pigeon No. 3: 
Period A„---- 
19 
304 
-74 
Period B .... 
7 
230 
-23 
Pigeon No. 4: 
Period A.... 
19 
301 
-73 
Period B.. 
17 
228 
-9 
Pigeon No. 7.. 
5 
266 
-87 
Pigeon No. 11___ 
9 
264 
-53 
Average daily feed 
Rice 
Beans Extract 
Grams 
•11.4 
17.3 
10.0 
• 12.1 
“16.3 
(?) 
16.3 
13.5 
6.0 
12.0 
16.5 
19.0 
15.7 
•12.3 
•16.5 
•11.4 
19.4 
•17.0 
21.0 
•15.5 
Grams 
Grams 
*0.50 
c 0.25 
5.0 
2.0 
*0.38 
2.0 
' 2.0 
1.0 
/0.67 
2.0 
• 2.0 
4.67 
1.80 
•4.0 
9.0 
11.1 
• Polished rice hand fed. 
* First percolate from 8 grams beans. 
c Flask extraction from 2.77 grams beans, 
d Second percolate from 4 grams beans. 
• Velvet beans extracted by alcohol. 
/Second percolate from 3.2 grams beans. 
Table I and Figure 1 show a summary of the results. When 
alcoholic extracts of velvet beans were given to pigeons that were 
declining in weight on a diet of polished nee, the declme was checked 
and in some cases gains in weight occurred (periods B and C of No. 
8, A of No. 14, and B of No. 1). Pigeon No. 8 developed poly¬ 
neuritis on a diet of polished rice in period A. A daily dose of alco¬ 
holic extract * 6 representing 8 grams of velvet beans was then given 
throughout period B. The bird was restored to an apparently 
normal condition and made decided gains in this period. The bird 
was then changed to a different alcoholic extract 7 in daily doses 
representing 2.77 grams of beans. The bird received this extract for 
only 21 days (period C). There was considerable loss of weight, 
but the pigeon was apparently in good condition at the close of the 
period. 
That the extract given No. 8 in period B did not carry all the pro¬ 
tective substance contained in the beans is shown by period A of 
No. 14 and period B of No. 1. x 
After the percolate had been removed for the preparation of the 
extract given No. 8 in period B, the percolation was continued and an 
extract prepared from the second fraction. Pigeons Nos. 1 and 14 
received this second fraction extract representing 4 grams and 3.2 
f rams of velvet beans per day, respectively, for 70 days. Both birds 
eclined in weight considerably, but did not show any symptoms 
of polyneuritis. The longest-surviving check birds (Nos. 3 and 4) 
lived only 26 and 36 days, respectively, after they were started on 
polished rice. 
• This extract was prepared by percolating ground, velvet beans with cold 90 to 95 per cent alcohol, and 
evaporating the percolate on dextrin. 
7 This extract was prepared by extracting velvet beans on boiling water bath with four fractions of 90 
to 95 per cent alcohol, each fraction beitig heated two hours. 
