Experimental Lathyrism in the White Rat and Mouse. ∗

Summary

1. Young white mice of 12 to 15 g body weight fed diets containing 50% Lathyrus odoratus meal grew well and showed no development of experimental lathyrism in 17 weeks, although young white rats which received a similar diet developed experimental lathyrism in from 3 to 6 weeks. 2. Diets containing Lathyrus latifolius meal (50%) were toxic for both rats and mice, death occurring in from 3 to 8 days (rats) and 5 to 12 days (mice). The extraction of seed of Lathyrus latifolius meal with 30% ethanol removed the toxic principle. Mice fed the extracted meal survived and appeared normal over a period of 18 days. 3. Mice fed Lathyrus sylvestris seed died with symptoms of acute toxicity in 4 to 7 days.