A mixture of volatile organic acids, consisting for the most part of the fatty acids, acetic, propionic and butyric, is a characteristic product offermentation within the alimentary tract. It was shown previously that volatile acids are absorbed directly from the organ in which they are produced (Barcroft, McAnally & Phillipson, 1944), and this fact, together with a consideration of the quantities present in the digesta—a subject with which the present paper is concerned—suggest that they form a valuable part of the calorific material utilized by the animal.

*

We are greatly indebted to Dr J. A. Burkhardt for obtaining this data.

*

The Sohxlet apparatus was kindly lent to us by Prof. A. C. Chibnall, F.R.S.

Copyright © 1946 The Company of Biologists Ltd.
1946
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