‘The writer and associates have been interested in a study of commercial dog foods for several years. Our original efforts were confined to clarification of the age-old question as to the ability of dogs to utilize starch. We could see no physiological reason why dogs should not be able to digest starch. However, in the absence of scientific proof and because of the importance of the subject it was necessary that we establish the facts. The dog is an efficient converter of starch, even of raw, laundry starch. This we have demonstrated to our own satisfaction [note: ‘Roseboom, B.B. and J.W. Patton.; Jour. Am. Vet. Med. Assn., April 1929, pp. 768-772.; Ibid; American Journal Physiology (In Press).’].

In the course of these studies we had observed that commercial dog foods varied considerably in their nitrogenous constituents. This led the writer to a study of what was being offered in commercial dog foods.’ (204)