S. M. DAS GUPTA 261
experiment about 6 lb. per day. The experiment was divided into five
periods as follows :—
Period I.—Basal diet consisting of straw and 1 lb. of linseed cake.
Period II.—Same as I together with 4 oz. of red palm oil.
Period III.—Same as period II.
Period IV.—Same as period I, together with 8 oz. of red palm oil.
Period V.—Same as period I.
The results are given in Table IX. The methods of analyses were exactly
similar to that described in experiment I.
With regard to the experiment with red palm oil, it is to be noted that it
has been recently tried with some success in the treatment of human Kerato-
malacia [Aykroyd and Wright, 1937].
The oil (10 lb.) was obtained from Malay through a local agent in Calcutta.
The oil was an orange-coloured semi-solid fat having an agreeable odour. On
analysis, the oil gave the following results :—Acid value—15.4 c.c. (in oelic
acid per cent) ; Reichert-value—0.8 c.c.; saponification value—203 ; Iodine
value (Wijs')—55.6. The determination of carotene of the oil was made as
described in Section I. The basal diet was similar to that described in the
previous experiment. It must be admitted that during the ingestion of the
oil a portion of the carotene was lost. A further quantity of carotene was
also lost during the absorption of the oil through the alimentary tract. The
results obtained, however, are significant.
TABLE IX
Results of analysis of melted butter-fats of a cow receiving different amounts of
red palm oil containing 56.8 mg. of carotene per 100 grm. of the oil along
with the basal diet, consisting of 20 lb. of straw-chops and 1 lb. of
concentrate.
Period |
No. of |
Amount of |
Amount of carotene ingested daily |
R. W. (Mean of 2 values) |
I. N. (Mean of 2 values) |
Carotene (Y. U.) per grm. |
Vitamin-A |
I |
7 |
0 oz. |
0 mg. |
26.8 |
33.6 |
3.8 |
7.6 |
II |
7 |
4 „ |
64.5 „ |
27.8 |
34.6 |
5.4 |
8.8 |
III |
7 |
4 „ |
64.5 „ |
28.2 |
36.6 |
6.8 |
10.4 |
IV |
7 |
8 „ |
129.0 „ |
29.4 |
37.4 |
10.4 |
14.8 |
V |
7 |
0 „ |
0 „ |
28.4 |
37.6 |
5.6 |
9.8 |
DISCUSSION
It will be seen from Table I that as cow D1 was given less amount of
grass and higher proportion of straw, carotene content of butter did not
proportionately diminish as was expected. It remained rather steady till
the 4th week. The Reichert value on the other hand gradually diminished
from a value of 26.4 in the first week to a value of 24.1 in the 6th week. As