Abstract
Twelve pigs were fed a ration of cornmeal 60 per cent., wheat middlings 10 per cent., molasses 5 per cent. and cottonseed meal 10 per cent. which was gradually increased to 25 per cent. They also received a mineral mixture of salt and lime. Six of these died from 8 to 13 weeks after the experiment was begun, the rest were at that time changed to a ration free from cottonseed meal and are still alive.
The most constant tissue changes were ascites, hydrothorax, hydropericardium, a distension of the sheath, anasarca, œdema of the perirenal fat and congestion of the thyroid glands with a marked diminution of colloid material. In those that died first, there were marked subpleural and interlobular pulmonary œdema. The œdematous liquid was slightly reddened and gelatinized on standing.
A Holstein cow has been fed cottonseed meal for 10 weeks beginning with 6 quarts and gradually increased to 10 quarts daily comprising the entire grain ration, with hay for roughage.
She does not show any ill effects as yet. Two adults, a boy 5 years old, and two dogs, fed milk of this cow the first week of the experiment, developed diarrhea. Two dogs fed the milk the second week did not show any ill effects. A two-day-old calf began sucking this cow I5 days after the experiment was started. He gained weight steadily and showed no apparent ill effects. The calf was killed by bleeding from carotid at the age of 5 weeks. Autopsy showed edema of the perirenal fat and of the omenturn. In the peritoneal cavity, there was about 600 C.C. reddish liquid that gelatinized on standing, similarly to the ascitic liquid found in the pigs.
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