FOODS — HUMAN NUTRITION. 465 



The influence of environment on diet, Z. Kotchetkova (2. Cong. Intemat. 

 Hyg. Aliment. Bruxelles [Proc], 1910, Sect. 1, pp. 261-264).— The author com- 

 pares the results of dietary studies made in different urban and rural sections 

 of Belgium and of others made in various countries, including the United States. 

 He concludes that the environment is a controlling factor in the diet, and that 

 on changing his environment, as when he emigrates, man rapidly adapts his 

 diet to the conditions prevailing in tiis new home. 



The manag'ement of children predisposed to nervousness, L. F. Barkh:e 

 (Bui. Med. and Chirurg. Facult. Md., 3 {1911), No. 9, pp. 113-121).— This paper 

 discusses the conditions which influence the nervous system of the child and 

 niakes practical suggestions regarding the mental, moral, and physical disci- 

 pline to which children predisposed by inheritance or environment to nervous- 

 ness should be submitted. 



In regard to nutrition, the author says : 



" Plenty of good simple food including milk, meat, vegetables, and fruit with 

 avoidance of condiments, coffee, tea, and alcohol, is approved by all authorities. 

 " Many parents make the mistake of allowing the caprice of the child to 

 Influence its diet. We now know the foods tMt are suitable for children and, 

 knowing these, the children should be provided with them in suitable amounts 

 and should be required to eat of them, largely independent of choice. The child 

 tliat learns to eat and digest all wholesome foods and who is not permitted to 

 cultivate little food antipathies makes a good start and avoids one of the worst 

 pitfalls of life with which medical men are very familiar, namely, a meticulous 

 anxiety concerning the effects of various foods, all too likely to develop into a 

 hypochondriacal state." 



The work of the kidneys and the specific dynamic action of nutrients, 

 F. Tangl {Zenthl. Physiol., 25 (1911), No. 19, p. SS9).— Experiments were made 

 with dogs on which tracheatomy was performed. 



In 9 series of experiments it was demonstrated that the gaseous exchange 

 decreased after the kidneys had been isolated. The absolute amount of this 

 decrease seemed to bear no relation to body weight. The kidneys of a dog 

 weighing 6 kg. were estimated to consume 4.4 cc. of oxygen per minute and 

 produce 2.2 cc. of carbon dioxid, and their work demanded 7.9 per cent of the 

 total energy transformations of the body. 



The oxidation was increased by the introduction of albumin, as was also the 

 energy transformation ; uric acid and a solution of common salt produced the 

 same effect. From ttds, the authors conclude that the specific dynamic action 

 of albumin can not explain increased activity of the kidneys. 



How far can protein catabolism in inanition be diminished by feeding' on 

 carbohydrates? W. Wimmer (Ztsclir. Biol, 57 (1911), No. 6-7, pp. 185-236, 

 dgms. 3). — In experiments with dogs, the authors found 55 per cent of the pro- 

 tein could be protected by feeding carbohydrates. The influence of gelatin as 

 a protein sparer was less marked. "When starch and dextrose were given at 

 intervals throughout the day, their effects were about equal. Any pathological 

 condition in the dogs seemed to affect the result of the experiments. 



Secretion of gastric juice with decrease in the chlorin supply of the body, 

 R. RosEMANN (Pfliiffer's Arch. Physiol., 142 (1911), No. 3-6, pp. 208-234).— In 

 experiments which were made with dogs fed on a diet poor in salts, no impor- 

 tant decrease in the body supply of chlorin was noted, the organism protecting 

 itself by decreasing the amount secreted by the kidneys. The removal of gastric 

 juice by means of a fistula was more effective. A decrease in the chlorin supply 

 was followed immediately by a decrease in the amount of acidity of the gastric 

 juice and by loss of appetite. 



