FOODS HUMAN NUTRITION. 871 



diiced by meat feeding iu dogs with an p]ck fistula which has been noted. " On 

 the other hand, since this anuiionia is not elaborated in the walls of the intestine 

 as a part of the normal animal metabolism, but clearly comes straight from the 

 fecal matter in the large intestine, it is not at all strange that dogs with Eck 

 fistulas do not thrive on much meat. No one would suppose that the ammonia is 

 the only product absorbed from that region. The Eck fistula dogs seem to fur- 

 nish the first really definite illustration of 'auto-intoxication' by way of the 

 large intestine. The definitely fecal breath met with in many persons with 

 ' indigestion ' acquires a somewhat unpleasantly definite significance in this 

 connection. 



" AVhether this and other symptoms of indigestion are due to the excessive 

 production of putrefactive flecomposition products in the large intestine or to 

 an unusual failure of the liver to render those products harmless is an open 

 question. But it looks at all events as if one of the most important functions 

 of the liver is to dispose of the toxic materials coming from the large intestine. 



"As an essential part of animal metabolism the portal ammonia is hereby 

 largely robbed of the peculiar interest which has been attached to it for the past 

 15 years, and since the amount of ammonia in other blood is almost infinitesimal 

 under ordinary normal conditions this too becomes a rather unimportant fea- 

 ture of normal metabolism. The ammonia in the tissues, the ammonia of ex- 

 perimental acidosis, and certain obvious clinical applications remain to be in- 

 vestigated. We have already begun on this work, but some little time will 

 necessarily elapse before we can report upon it." 



Contributions to the study of beri-beri, M. G. Lebredo (Saidad ij Benefic. 

 BoJ. Of. Sec. [Cuba], 6 {1911), No. 5-6, pp. 6//3-6V/5).— Notes on cases of beri- 

 beri observed in Cuba. 



The author believes that cases caused by starvation, akin to scurvy and char- 

 acterized by apolyneuritis should be distinguished from true beri-beri. although 

 similar anatomically. A bacteriological study of samples of rice eaten by beri- 

 beri patients showed the presence of numerous spores capable of resisting a 

 temperature of 100° C, continued for 20 minutes. Cultures of these were 

 made and intraperitoneal and intradural injections caused the death of guinea 

 pigs in a few hours. Subcutaneous injections and injections by the mouth 

 produced no immetliate effect. In the latter case, however, if the gastric 

 mucus membrane was previously irritated, death was produced by the injec- 

 tion, with the same symptoms as in the case of peritoneal Injections. 



Maize diet and sunlight in reference to the photodynamic theory of pel- 

 lagra, P. RoNDONi (Sperimctitale, 65 [1911], pp. 307-316; abs. in ZentbL 

 Biochcm. u. BiopJiys., 12 (1912), No. 17-18, p. 716).— The author was not able 

 to detect an increased effect of maize diet due to light. 



Researches into the carbon dioxid output with static and negative mus- 

 cular work, E. Hammarsten (Skand. Arch. Physiol., 26 (1912), No. 1-3, pp. 

 212-220, figs. J,, dgms. 2). — Continuing work by Johansson (E. S. R., 13, p. 5S0, 

 and 14, p. 992), and using a similar respiration apparatus and ergometer, the 

 author attempted to discover whether any difference can be ex-perimentally 

 determined between the muscle processes during negative and static work as 

 measured by the carbon dioxid output. He concludes that negative work is 

 accompanied by no other carbon dioxid outimt than that which corresponds to 

 the maintenance of muscular contraction. 



Expenditure of energy in walking, J. Amar (Jour. Physiol, et Path. 0(^n.. 

 IS (1911), No. 2, pp. 212-219, figs. //).— The subjects referred to in the experi- 

 44616°— No. 9—12 6 



