566 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



plied. Sugar is changed in part to fat, and carboliydrates and fat are botli 

 formed from pi'otein, fat being stored. Each nutrient has a pronounced specific 

 effect which is manifested much less through energy changes tlian through 

 changes of matter. These specific effects are noted whether tlie foodstuffs are 

 talien alone or together. The law of isodynamic proportions, the author con- 

 cludes, does not apply to the immediate uses of food as manifested in the 

 formation and storage of reserve materials. 



Studies on water drinking, VIII— X, H. A. Mattill and P. B. Hawk {Jour. 

 Amer. Chem. Soc, 33 {1911), No. 12, pp. 1978-2032).— FuW details are given 

 of 3 papers previously noted from brief summaries (E. S. R., 25, p. 572), as 

 follows : 



The utilization of ingested fat under the influence of copious and moderate 

 water drinking with meals (pp. 1978-1998) ; the distribution of bacterial and 

 other forms of fecal nitrogen and the utilization of ingested protein under the 

 influence of copious and moderate water drinljing with meals (pp. 1999-2019) ; 

 and fecal output and its carbohydrate content under the influence of copious 

 and moderate water drinking with meals (pp. 2019-2032). 



The potassium, sodium, and chlorin content of plain and striated muscles 

 of different animals, A. Costantino (Bwchem. Ztschr., 21 {Wit), No. 1-2. 

 pp. 52-77). — Muscles from a number of farm and laboratory animals and 

 poultry were studied. 



The water content of the nonstriated muscles, the author concludes, is 

 greater than that of the striated. There are undoubtedly differences in the 

 sodium and potassium quantity of the 2 classes of muscles, but no fixed rule 

 can be given to describe them. Other conclusions have to do with specific 

 variations in the muscles studied. 



Concerning' metabolism in old ag'e, R. IThlmann {Intcrnat. Beitr. Path. u. 

 Titer. Erndhrungsstor. Stoffio. u. VerdaunngskranJc, 3 {1911), No. 3, p-p<. 239- 

 2^f4)- — The income and outgo of nitrogen was determined with a woman 90 

 .years old, in good health except for the infirmities of age, and weighing 57.2 lbs. 



On an average the simple mixed diet which consisted of milk, eggs, bread, 

 rice, and potato, did not differ materially from her accustomed diet, and Sup-, 

 plied 25.G5 calories per kilogram of body weight. The average nitrogen con- 

 sumption in a 6-day period was 4.4 gm., the average daily excretion in the 

 urine was 2.9 gm. and in the feces 1.2 gm., or a daily gain of 0.3 gm. of nitrogen. 

 Data are also given for the metabolism of another period of 2 days, in which the 

 simple diet contained a proprietai'y foodstuff containing some predigested pro- 

 tein. According to the author, the amount of nitrogen required was about 

 one-third of the normal quantity, the low value being due in part to diminished 

 absorption but chiefly to low functional activity of body cells in general. 



Some observations on body temperature, P. Davidson and N. D. Walktu 

 {Jour. Roy. Army Med. Corps, 17 {1911), No. 3, pp. 263-27^).— It being a well- 

 known fact that body temperature normally rises during muscular activity, 

 the authors attempted to determine this normal rise during marching so that 

 it might be possible to determine when a rise of temperature under such con- 

 ditions is to be considered pathological. The body temperatures of 5 subjects 

 were taken per rectum at hourly intervals on days which included 5 hours of 

 marching, and conclusions were based on the average of results. 



In general, the authors found that the amount of exertion did not cause 

 much change in the body temperature, nor did such variations of clothing or 

 of the external temperature as the experiments included. The effect of eating 

 was usually, though not invariably, to raise the temperature slightly. The men 

 in question were all used to walking, so that the question of training did not 



