Abstract
A difficulty in conducting feeding experiments on rats, when the amount of food consumed is a factor, is that the rats spill or waste varying amounts of the food if it is kept in the usual types of containers. We have devised a simple, inexpensive feeding tube from which rats do not waste or lose food, and with which quantitative experiments can be readily carried out. Being made entirely of glass, it has the further advantages of transparency, and of being suited for experiments where various drugs, which might react with metals, are present in the diet.
The feeding tube is made from glass tubing, 2 inches in diameter, which is bent into a right angle and the lower end sealed off. The accompanying figure indicates the shape and dimensions of the tube. An important feature is the small shelf projecting into the lumen at the bend. This is made by accentuating the wrinkle produced when the tube is bent, and shaping it in the direction and form indicated. This serves to catch any food the rats might scratch out, and to cause it to drop back into the bulb. The bulb as drawn will hold about 75 gm. of diet. Its size may be altered by blowing it larger or smaller as might be needed for any special purpose. Tubing of the diameter illustrated here may be used with rats weighing up to 250 gm. If larger animals are to be used, a tubing of larger diameter would be desirable.
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