The Study of Some Feed Mixtures with Reference to Their Potential Acidity and Their Potential Alkalinity

PART I*

Historical

Interest in acid-base balance of diataries has increased greatly in recent years. Sherman and his collaborators pointed out the basis for work along this line when they made more accurate determinations than had hitherto been available of the ash constituents of the common feeds.

Sherman1 has shown that meats and cereals have a preponderance of acid-forming elements, while on the other hand, fruits and vegetables have an excess of base-forming elements.

It has been shown that ash has an influence on the reaction of the urine. Acid-forming feeds lead to the formation of more acid urines, and base-forming feeds cause the excretion of less acid or alkaline urines. However it has been found in studies carried on with men that certain exceptions were found, namely, prunes, plums, cranberries, which although yielding a basic ash, nevertheless increase the acid excretion due to the presence of benzoic acid, excreted . . .