No. 2, June, 1921] PHYSIOLOGY 211 



characteristics of the fungus, such as suppression of conidia formation, which may be altered 

 by certain deficiencies of the culture medium, may also be brought about by factors leading 

 to alteration in the permeability of the cells. — V. H . Young, 



PHOTOSYNTHESIS 



1457. Gradenwitz, A. Carbonic acid gas to fertilize the air. Sci. Amer. 123: 549, 557. 

 3 fig. 1920. — An account is given of some experiments carried out on a commercial scale, in 

 which greenhouses were supplied with purified exhaust gases from blast furnaces. The 

 various plants showed increased growth and yield of fruits of 70 per cent to 180 per cent 

 more than in the case of control plants. — Chas. H. Otis. 



1458. Stoll, Arthur. Ueber die Assimilation der Kohlensaure. [On the assimilation 

 of carbon dioxide.] Vierteljahrsschr. Naturforsch. Ges. Zurich 63: 512-543. 1918.— The 

 author gives essentially the following summary: The carbon dioxide diffuses from the inter- 

 cellular spaces through the cell walls, is brought into a higher concentration by a chemical 

 reaction in the cell, and reaches the chlorophyll in a form especially susceptible to reaction. 

 The carbonic acid as such, or a carbonic acid derivative, is then taken up by the chlorophyll. 

 The chlorophyll molecule with the carbonic acid absorbs light and is surrounded by a spe- 

 cific peroxide enzyme which splits off molecular oxygen. The first free product of assimi- 

 lation is carbohydrate material whose simplest representative is formaldehyde. — John H. 

 Schaffner. 



METABOLISM (GENERAL) 



1459. Anderson, R. J. Composition of inosite phosphoric acid of plants. Jour. Biol. 

 Chem. 44: 429-438. 1920. — The composition of phytic acid of plants as determined from the 

 analyses of salts of this acid corresponds to inosite hexaphosphoric acid. — G. B. Rigg. 



1460. Cook, M. J., V. Mix, and E. O. Culvyhouse. Hemotoxin production by the 

 Streptococcus in relation to its metabolism. Jour. Infect. Diseases 28: 93-121. 1921. — 

 Hemotoxin (hemolysin) production by Streptococcus is due to, and controlled by, conditions 

 that influence the growth of the organism. — Selman A. Waksman. 



1461. Dobbin, L. On the presence of formic acid in the stinging hairs of the nettle. 

 Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh 39: 137-142. 1919. — Formic acid was demonstrated in the con- 

 tents of the hairs by its conversion into lead formate, which could be distinguished by means 

 of a polarizing microscope. Filter papers impregnated with barium carbonate were pressed 

 upon nettle leaves. The papers were extracted with water and the filtered extract acidified 

 with phosphoric acid and then distilled. The distillate was acid in reaction and could bo 

 converted into the lead salt. — Joanne L. Karrer. 



1462. Haas, P. Organic chemistry. Sci. Prog. [London] 14:378-380, 565-567. 1920.— 

 A brief review of some of the more recent literature on this subject among which are papers 

 dealing with the coloring matter of plants and one by Dobbin (Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh 

 39 : 137-142. 1919 — see preceding entry) on the active agent in the stinging hairs of nettles. 

 ■ — /. L. Weimer. 



1463. Haas, P. Organic chemistry. Sci. Prog. [London] 15:22-24. 1920.— A brief 

 review of a paper by Haworth (Jour. Chem. Soc. 117: 199. 1920) on the constitution of 

 disaccharides is included. — /. L. Weimer. 



1464. Haas, P. Organic chemistry. Sci. Prog. [London] 15: 192-194. 1920.— The dia- 

 static properties of formaldehyde, a new theory of carbon dioxide assimilation, and the gas 

 contained in the floats of the giant Pacific kelp are mentioned. — /. L. Weimer. 



