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PEROSIS, an anatomical deformity of the leg bones of young chicks, was first described by Hunter and Funk (1930). The condition is associated with a high intake of calcium and phosphorus, and a low intake of manganese (Hunter et al., 1931; Milby, 1934; Wilgus et al., 1936–1937; Clifcorn et al., 1938). Later, the work of Wiese et al. (1939) showed that the blood and bone phosphatase activity of perotic birds was lower than that of chicks receiving an adequate amount of manganese in their diet. As the leg bones of chicks with perosis are bent and twisted from their normal shape it was thought that there might be an abnormal distribution of the enzyme phosphatase in the bones of these chicks. In this paper we wish to report the results we have observed on the distribution of this enzyme in the leg bones of perotic and normal chicks. EXPERIMENTAL

In the sterilizing process in the manufacture of evaporated milk, it is desirable to produce an incipient coagulation, in the nature of a tender jell or "fiver" as it is called by the practical men. Such a product will have a heavy creamy body after the "fiver" has been broken up by the shaking process. This is desirable because the product presents a richer appegrance to the consumer, and on account of the greater viscosity, there is little danger of fat separation from such a product. However, evaporated milk differs widely in the readiness with which it coagulates. At times the milk coagulates so readily that it would be unmarketable, on account of its curdy appearance, if it were heated long enough to preserve it. This constitutes the problem with which we are concerned in this paper. There is probably no condensery that is entirely free from this trouble throughout the year. I t is undoubtedly one of the biggest problems that confronts the industry.

Summary 1.Further studies on urea utilization in the rumen fistula heifer are reported. 2.With timothy hay as the sole ingredient of the basal ration, utilization of added urea took place only partially, if at all. In the presence of starch a suitable substrate was provided for the development of an active flora and urea was efficiently utilized. 3.When casein was added to a timothy hay-starch-urea ration the utilization of urea was markedly reduced.

1. Our data indicate that the effectiveness of whole liver in the treatment of nutritional anemia in rats induced by a milk diet is directly proportional to its available iron and copper content. The other constituents in liver are not needed for maximum hemoglobin regeneration on a diet of milk, iron, copper, and manganese. 2. Commercial preparations of liver products with iron or iron and copper vary greatly in their hemoglobin-regenerating efficiency in rats with nutritional anemia. The variation is correlated directly with the iron and copper content of the preparation. When the copper-iron ratio was too wide hemoglobin regeneration was checked, although the iron supply was sufficient for optimum regeneration.

Summary 1.The serum of winter produced milk showed physical characteristics at variance with that of summer produced milk. It was clarified with greater difficulty. An adjustment of the salt balance and pH improved somewhat the technique used for the preparation of the serum from winter milk. The time at which these changes occur varies from year to year. 2.The serum of winter produced milk showed lower nutritive value than that of summer produced milk as measured by its use in supplementing a highly purified diet as a source of the vitamin B complex. 3.The significance of these studies lies in the relation of fresh plant tissue as contrasted with field dried material to subtle changes in the milk secreted.

Summary Goats receiving trace-mineralized salt (containing cobalt), in comparison to those receiving only iodized salt, were observed to have a higher level of vitamin B 12 in their colostrum and milk during the first week post-partum. Trace-mineralized salt or a 50-mg. supplement of cobalt per goat per day had no influence upon the level of this vitamin in the goat's milk after this time. The addition of trace-minerals to the diet of the goat did not influence the free folic acid level of the goat's milk. The lower folic acid content of goat's milk observed in this study is believed to be more accurate than the previous data of Collins et al . (1).

We were interested in the recent report by Norris, Heuser and Wilgus1 on the occurrence of a peculiar type of paralysis in poultry involving the legs and feet, the cause of which has been attributed by them to the lack of some hitherto unrecognized factor occurring in milk, vitamin in nature. In 1925 we had begun a series of experiments on the effect of varying calcium-phosphorus ratios on the growth and skeleton development of the chick. Three series of experiments were started using Barred Rock chicks, each group receiving the Wisconsin Baby Chick ration as such or somewhat modified in respect to its calcium-phosphorus content, but each series receiving no or different sources of vitamin D. One series was kept out-of-doors in sunlight; another series started at the same time was kept in the attic of our laboratory but given 10 minutes’ daily irradiation with the emanations from a quartz . . .

Summary 1.The effect of moisture level and temperature on carotene losses in dehydrated alfalfa and cereal grasses was studied under sealed conditions. The moisture levels studied were 2.5 to 15 per cent and the temperatures employed were 22 to 25° C. and 33 to 36° C. 2.In most instances, almost complete carotene preservation resulted with 10 to 15 per cent of water. Preserving both the carotene and the green color was best accomplished at 7.5 to 10 per cent of water with 10 per cent as the preferred level because of the more optimum carotene preservation with no detrimental color change. At 7.5 per cent of water, the amount of loss was unpredictable and varied from 2.5 to 17 per cent. The losses increased with decreasing water levels below 7.5 per cent and at 2.5 to 5 per cent varied from 5 to 32 per cent. 3.Storage at 22 to 25° C. (room temperature) was more favorable for the preservation of the green color at 10 to 15 per cent of water level than storage at 33 to 36° C. Little difference in color preservation was observed at either temperature with the moisture below 10 per cent. Postitive pressures seldom were observed with 10 per cent moisture or less and storage at 22 to 25° C. 4.Storage under sealed conditions at 33 to 36° C. of a mixed feed containing 15 per cent alfalfa as the main source of carotene resulted in complete carotene retention with 10 per cent of moisture. Below 7.5 per cent the losses were large. The feed became bleached in the unwaxed carton but retained a pleasant aroma. In waxed eartons feed at any moisture level remained green and had pleasant aromas. 5.Where the mixed feed contained the added trace elements Fe, Cu, Mn and Co, the contents of the unwaxed carton were bleached and also possessed a rancid or tallowy odor. Under sealed conditions the green color and fine aroma were retained, and at 10 per cent and above of water, the carotene was preserved completely. 6.Investigation of many materials as barriers to oxygen and carbon dioxide transmission finally led to the use of Saran, a plastic film. It was found effective for the preservation of carotene in dehydrated alfalfa, with a proper water level.

Summary Butterfat prepared from butter made in various months of the year has been fractionated into two fractions by cold crystallization from an acetone solution. A liquid fraction obtained from September, 1945, butter allowed rats to grow at a superior rate, while a solid fraction prepared from this butter caused a very slow rate of growth. This phenomenon was not repeated to the same degree in subsequent trials using other samples of butter. Corn oil was separated into two fractions by a similar procedure but rats grew equally well when fed either of these fractions or corn oil itself. The treatment of either fat by solvent had no deleterious effect on its nutritive value.

Summary The addition of urea as a source of nitrogen definitely increased the synthesis of riboflavin, nicotinic acid, biotin and pantothenic acid in the bovine rumen when a readily available carbohydrate was present. Pyridoxine and “folic acid” could not be too closely correlated with ration composition. In the absence of a readily fermentable carbohydrate and probably a low population of microorganisms the synthesis of the members of the B complex is not at a maximum. The data indicate that thiamine may not be synthesized in the rumen. However, it seems more than probable that it is synthesized, but absorbed or destroyed at a rate greater than its synthesis.

Studies on the comparative nutritive value of butter fat and certain vegetable oils (1) showed that butter fat homogenized into raw skimmed milk with ample fat soluble vitamins and minerals added and fed ad libitum to weanling rats gave better growth than did corn oil, coconut oil, cottonseed oil, and soybean oil fed in a like manner. Further study disclosed that the factor (or factors) responsible for the superior growth of rats on butter fat milk did not lie in the non-saponifiable fraction of butter fat (1), nor did such compounds as egg lecithin, sphingomyelin, sphingosin, or ethanol amine have any effect on the nutritive value of the vegetable oils used in our experiments. Choline was also tried and showed slight growth promoting effects on the females (2). Later experiments (unpublished) have shown that the addition of choline (30mg. per day) has had no growth promoting effect when added to butterfat or any of the vegetable oils fed in skimmed milk.