The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-12-12
IMPORTANCE OF SALTS IN FOoD-

IMPORTANCE OF SALIS IN GOD
Mr.. Foster has made some interesting
experiments on dogs and pigeons, which
show that animals suffer and die when
inorganic salts are altogether absent
from their food, although the other
nutritive constituents may be abundant.
In all the animals tried, there was a
condition of muscular weakness, tremor
and general exhaustion. In the dog,
the muscles of the posterior extremities
from the second week Of the experiment
onward, gradually assumed q paralvtic
character as when the function of the
spinal cord is weakened The activity
of the cerebrum was also impaired, as
was evident from the bluntness of the
senses and apathy of the animal. Later
on, increased excitability often appear
ed the dogs were terrified at any quick
motion; one had brief attack of mad.
ness, but soon crouched down trembling
and growing On being taken out, it
ran forward and knocked its head vio-
lently against wall. After the ami
mails had been deprived of salts for
some time, the juices of the intestinal
canal either lost their digestive power
or were not secreted in proper quantity,
and nutrition was thus interfered with.
Death took place, however, from the
alterations in the nervous system, be-
fore there had been time for it to occur
from hamilton. The quantity of salts
necessary to life is smaller than is gen.
orally supposed, but the exact amount
required is still to be determined.
These experiments amount practical
lv to a scientific exposure of the unnat-
uralness and consequent abnormality of
the use of sifted wheat -four the princi-
pal food of women and children, and of
too many men. The inorganic salts
are almost absent from this artificial
food, the chief material weakness of
modern Decentralization. Mr.. Eos
ter's experiments are contributed to the
LONDON MEDICAL RECORD.
FATTENING OF Mich Cows.-THE
PEOPLE, Concord, n. H., has the follow
ing in relation to feeding cows for milk
and beef at the same time In a re-
cent conversation with an intelligent
farmer, we learned that his practice of
his cows, especially the farrow ones in
Winter, was to feed for beef while they
were giving milk In this way he
thought he got pay in milk for all it
costs to fatten the animals, giving him
their increased value for profit For
instance, he takes farrow COW in the
Fall or early Winter and commences
feeding her the same as he would if she
was intended only for beef This he
keeps up through the Winter, and she
not only puts on fat, but gives double
the milk that could be obtained on ordi-
nary keeping. Not only does she give
good mess, but it is rich The milk
is considered fully equal in value to the
cost of keeping the COW. Now mark
the result. Instead of her being thin
and of very small selling value in the
Spring, she is ready for the butcher at
the very time of year when beef gen.
orally brings the highest prices
1t occurred to us that this was worth
making note of, which we have &C
cordingly done. Is not the practice of
this man good one to adopt and fol-
low? 1t certainly seems So AS a
great many farmers will be feeding more
or less grain the coming Winter, would
it not be a good plan to try the expert
ment of feeding the farrow COWS, at
least, both for milk and beef at the same
time.