Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-09-08
THE CHEMICAL Ger
troll OF EGG LAYING
Some Results of Recent Expert
ments At the Maine Agricul-
tural Experiment Station.

following was made public today by
Director Chas. D. Woods Of the Maine
Agricultural Experiment Station at the
University of Maine:
The older physiology were generally
taught that most of the functions of the
body were directly and completely con-
trolled by the nervous system. A ner-
vous condition Of a COW was supposed
for example. to be a primary factor IN
the determination Of her milk producing
quality: whether a hen laid or did not
was determined by her nervous SYSTEM
and so on. While it is evident that the
nervous system may have some cohtrol
over such functions, the general trend OF
the physiological Investigations OF recent
wears Is to attach relatively less import
ance to the role of the nervous system
in furnishing the primary stimulation
and control Of many organic processes
and more Importance to cnemicai sthui'
furnished by substances poured IN 10 tne
blood by various glands or the pody.
For some years past there have been
carried on at the Maine Agricultural
Experiment Station experiments on the
general physiology of the egg laying
process in hens. The underlying IDEA IN
these studies has been that before the
farmer and poultryman could gain the
desired control over egg production II
would be necessary to learn much more
than was known before In regard to the
~; oh,
the hens body and passed to the OUTSIDE
in the process of laying. All OF the eggs
which a hen lays are produced OF
course, in the first instance by the organ
commonly called the egg cluster ana
technically known as the oVary. pro-
blem which has lately been gwen at
tention by the Station biologists is as 10
what are the controlling factors IN the
working of this organ. What is IT tnat
determines that at certain times ana
seasons the ovary will work actively.
producing many eggs in succession
while at other times and seasons. as Tor
example during the moult. or during
period OF broodiness, the ovary stops lts
n;t ivity entirely and comes to rest?
An account of the Investigations which
iave been carried on regarding this pro-
,lem at the Station would make long
story, but the essential features
are as follows: 1t has been SHOWN that
there is \ definite chemical substance
which can control the activity of the
oyarv SO far as bringing about the ces-
sation Of laying is concerned. This chemi-
cal substance is produced by certain or
gans or bodies called yellow podles
which are connected with the ovary IN
mammals. Its counterpart is probably
produced by the discharged egg sacs IN
the ovary of the hen. If little of TINS
substance. which is now on the drug
market because of its use as tnerapeu-
tic agent in certain diseases OF the repro
ductive organs, be injected into hen IN
active LAYING, at the height of the breed
ing season for example, it stops the &C
tivity of the oviduct Immediately and
completely Other chemical substances
lack this specific power. After such IN
active substances are injected the plrd
goes on laying just as well as before.
Having determined how to stop the
laying activity by chemical means, the
next step was TO find out how to start it
when the ovary was in condition OF
rest, as during the moulting period. The
experiments along this line are not yet
completed. although progress in this
direction is being made. Certain sub
stances have been tested which gave
promise of favorable results because of
their known action on cattle, but these
have so far failed to bring about the ex-
pected results in poultry. There is. how
ever, good reason to believe that the &C
tivation of the ovary. as we'll as the stop
ping of its activity, is controlled by
chemical means, and that further re-
search will reveal what the essential
chemical is. Experiments along this line
will be continued at the Station as OPP
portunity offers. Some years ago it was
found that the so-Called ovarian stim-
ulants" such as cayenne pepper and mus
tard were not really such at all. The
favorable effect on egg production which
sometimes follows the feeding of these
substances is not due to any specific ac-
ton on the ovary at all. When such eff
feet occurs it is merely due to the fact
that these substances act as mild
stomachic tonic, improving the appetite
and enabling the hen to handle her ra-
tons little better.
CHAS. D. WOODS, Director.