The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-08-05
Physiology Of Salt in the Animal
Economy.


Physiology of Salt in the Animal
Economy.
have been invited to write scientific
gentleman of rare culture and one who
occupies very leading position in rcla-
ton to the agriculture of our State.
Salt, or chloride of sodium, is not only
found in very constant quantities in the
blood, but is also present in nearly all the
fluids and tissues of the body. The origin
of the salt of the body is in the general
food, as nearly all animal and vegetable
substances contain it in minute quantities;
and in the human body, that Of our domes.
tic animals and often of wild animals is
also taken separately or uncombined with
other substances.
The exit of salt from the body takes
place through the secretions, but princi-
pally as an eXcretion eliminated by the
kidneys. Not only the salt which comes
from the breaking down of the tissues,
consequent upon use, is thus eliminated,
but also the surplus which may be taken
in the food above what is needed
The function of salt-for that it is very
important is certainly proved by its con
siderable quantities in the tissues, and even
greater abundance in the animal fluids
has been definitely ascertained. 1t is not
SO much to form tissue as to preserve the
consistency of organs and organized fluids
and to aid the processes. 1t has been
shown that it is chloride of sodium, or
salt, that keeps the albumen of the blood
in solution and the cOrpusclcs in their
scmi-tluid condition. Hence the entire
OH nf c.,1f in tho
bined, would be fatal to life Again, it
has been definitely settled that salt pro-
notes absorption as perhaps no other sub
stance does. Again, salt acts as an appc-
tizer in human food, Il use by no means
to be neglected.
Now, there are two questions of practi-
cal importance to the farmer: First, is salt
needed to the perfect health of our domes-
tic animals in greater quantities than it
exists in the general food? anti secondly,
is it desirable for any reason to give it to
our horses and cattle? And one question
of general interest: Is it unhealthy to
eat salt in large quantities?
First, then, is salt needed in the animal
economy in larger quantities than it exists
in the general food? In 1854 French
scientist by the name of Boussingault OK
pcrimcnted on six bullocks. He treated
them all alike in every respect except that
three were fed 500 grains Of salt each day,
while the other three had no salt. These
experiments commenced in October. For
six months 10 noticeable difference APP
pearcd; but in the succeeding April diff
ference was noticed in the looks and &C
tons in favor of the animals receiving the
salt, which continued to be more striking,
till finally the animals -Aot receiving any
1,olf g. .lx 1,>t1, lx>> I
tons, while the others were as fine in ap-
| ley, of England, tried similar experiments
\ with sheep and with the same results.
These experiments show very cOnclu-
sively that animals which are stall-fed
need more salt than is contained in their
usual food; and the supposition would be
that the same is true of animals which
roam the fields and crop the fresh grass,
though the factthat animals in wild state
frequently get no free salt and yet appear
very healthy would argue the reverse of
this. Yet these same animals seem to
crave salt, as the much frequented salt
pools clearly prove; and natural taste or
desire is pretty good evidence of an Or
ganic need. The general opinion, too, of
our best farmers, as indicated by their
practice, is no small argument in favor Of
salt. Yet this argument may be weak
ened from the fact that the same solicitude
that would give salt would give other ex-
ira care, which would tend to make sleek
kline Hence salt might get too much
credit in accounting for the fine condition
of salt-fed stock.
Yet the fact of whole herds all through
the country, which look we'll and yeti never
get any free salt, is the strongest argument
against its necessity. There are only two
solutions to this question: Either the ami
the earth, or else they would look and do
still better were it part of their aliment.
In the second place, shall we feed our
animals salt? say emphatically, yes.
We see the weight of argument seems to
favor its use as need, which the animal
feels especially when Stalled; and, as we
shall soon show, salt can work no injury.
1t will pay simply in making our animals
more docile and manageable, even were
the argument from organic need entirely
wanting.
Again, / have heard our scientific city
milkmen say that milk might be skinned
to a limited degree, and by adding a lit
tie salt the fraud would be completely
masked; Now, we know how readily the
milk glands abstract substances from the
blood. Is it not probable, then, that salt
fed cows would give milk that would
seem richer from its containing more salt?
aside from the chance of their being more
healthy.
Lastly, is salt unhealthy when taken in
quite large quantities? Experience says
no. Physiology sustains the negation. As
already stated, if the salt in the blood be-
comes excessive, it is excreted by the kid
neys and does no harm. Let no one, then,
who has taste for very salty victuals,
which they have heretofore gratified with
grim forebodings OF disease and death,
any longer fear; for if salt will not always
save us, it will tend in that direction. Ex-
perience and physiology alike bid us eat
all the salt our appetites crave; for If we
do eat more than the system needs it will
be harmless; and not simply that, but will
be positive good even then as an appe-
tizer. would have no one infer from
this that it would be safe to give animals
an excessive amount Of salt when salt
hungry, any more than any other kind Of
food. It should be kept before them or
else fed in limited quantities at stated in
tervals:-Prcf Al. Cook, Michigan Agri-
cultural College. -
F. = 81 ID.
A LITTLE three year-old in Nashville
has sometimes to be threatened with a
peach-tree persuader." The little fellow
has come to understand any allusion to
the peach tree and usually subsidies when
it is spoken of. Some time ago, since the
Towering Of the fruit trees, slight refer.
ence was made to this same tree, when the
little fellow made pease for that day by
looking up and saying: why, mamma,
the switches are covered with rOses