Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-06-05

physiological significance from the carp,
bydrates. which are starch. the sugars, ana
similarly constituted matters. The alDu-
minoids NAV easily be made over by the
animal into its own substance, 1. G., INTO
muscles. tendons and the various working
tissues and membranes which are necessa-
nv parts of the animal machine, because
thew are the same kind of materials-are,
chemically speaking, of the same compo-
sition. The Carbohydrates, on the otner
hand, probably cannot serve at all Tor
building up the muscles and other parts OF
the growing animal. and cannot restore
the waste and wear of those parts oil ma
ture animals, because they are OF very
different nature. They contain no nitro
gen, an element which enters into all the
animal tissues (albuminoids) to the extent
of some 10 per cent of their dry matter.
The Carbohydrates cannot restore the
worn out M lscles or membranes oil the
animal any more than coal can be made TO
renew the used up packing, bolts, valves
flues and gearing, of steam engine. Inc
ulbuminoids are to the OK or the man what
brass and iron are to the machlne-the
materials of construction and repair.
The carbhydrates are, Furthermore, eX'
aetlv to the animal what coal and fuel are
to the steam engine. Their consumption
generates the power which runs the mech
9nism. Their burning (oXidation) in the
blood of animals produces the results OF
| life inst as the combustion of coal in the
fire place of the steam engine produces
| the motion and power of that machine.
There is, however, this difference be-
tween the engine and the animal-the for
mer may be stopped for repairs, the latter
NAV run at a lower rate, but if it be stop
ned II cannot resume its work. Hence the
repairs of the animal must 60 on simulta-
nnonslv with its waste. Therefore, the
materials of which it is built must admit
of constant replacement, and the auSt anu
sbreds of its wear and tear must admit OF
escape without impeding action. Inc an
imal body is as if an engine were lea WIN
coal and water not only, but win IRON
brass, and all the materials Tor us repair
and also is rs if the engine consumed It's
own worn out parts, voidlnS them rs ASHES
or rs GAS and smoke. The albumlnoius'
or blood and tissue formers, are thus con-
sumed in the animal, as well as the caro-
hydrates, or fuel proper. The TACT tnaI
the albuminoids admit OF consumption
implies that when the Carbohydrates or
proper fuel are insufficient, they. the albu-
minoids, may themselves serve us fuel
Such is the case, in fact. But, neverthe-
less. the two classes Of substances have
distinct offices in animal nutrition, and ex-
pericnce has demonstrated what science
predicted, viz. that for each special case
of animal nutrition special ratio OF dl-
oestible albumnoids to digestible carbby-
dra.es is the best and most economical,
and. within certain limits, is necessary
This proportion we designate as the "~'
tritire ratio, and these explanations make
its significance evident.
To allow of directly comparing the
money value of feeding stuffs with some
universally accepted standard, the last
E column gives comparison with good Nv
t erage meadow hay, taken as /.