766 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



received no evidence that any spirits of tliis nature (with the exception of 

 ahsinthe) have a specially toxic action." 



P.onding, labeling in bond, and (piestions concerned with trade in potable 

 spirits under the British food and drugs acts are also considered. 



Ale and lager beer, A. McGill (/.»//>. Inland Rev. Dept. Canada BuL J 9(1, 

 pp. 19). — The author presents the results of the examination of 73 samples of 

 ale and 67 samples of lager beer collected in Canada. 



Of the goods sold as ale or beer, 2 samples contained " such small amounts of 

 alcohol, as to exclude them from recognition as ale; they properly belong to the 

 class of nonalcoholic beverages." Two other samples, sold as root beer and 

 ginger beer, contained alcohol " equivalent to more than 4 per cent of proof 

 spirit." 



Chemical examination of pumpkin seed, F. B. Power and A. H. Salway 

 {Jour. Antn: Chem. Soc, 32 {1910), No. 3, pp. 3.'/6-360).— Expressed oil, the 

 " press-cake." and the shells were chemically studied and physiological tests 

 were made of the fatty oil and resin of pumplvin seed, particularly with ref- 

 erence to the reputed value of pumpkin seed as a tseniafuge. 



"As it is evident that these seeds contain no principle exhibiting marked 

 physiological activity, any value which they may actually possess, when admin- 

 istered in substance for the purpose indicated, would therefore appear to be 

 attributable to a mechanical action. In any case, the remedial value of pump- 

 kin seeds can not be considei'ed such as to justify their recognition by a national 

 pharmacopoeia." 



Chemical examination of watermelon seed, F. B. Power and A. H. Salway 

 (Jour. Anicr. Chan. Soc. 32 {1910), No. 3, pp. 360-374).— The results are re- 

 ported of an extended study of expressed oil, the " press-cake," and the shells 

 of watermelon seed, together with the results of studies of their possible physio- 

 logical effect. 



According to the authors. " the seeds contain no alkaloid, and no evidence 

 was obtained of the presence of a glucosid. . . . 



" The resin, both from the kei'nels and the shells of the seed, w'as adminis- 

 tered to a dog in amounts of 1 gm. each, but no obvious effect was produced, 

 and it may therefore be considered quite innocuous." 



Food preparations, M. Mansfield (Jahresber. Untcrsuch. Anst. Nahr. ii. 

 Gcnussinil. Alhj. Osterr. Apotli. Ver. Wicn, 21 {1908-9), pp. 8, 9; abs. in Ztschr. 

 Untcr.'iucJi. Nahr. u. GenussmtL, 19 {1910), No. 5, p. 290). — Data are given re- 

 garding the examination of a number of food materials including a zwieback 

 for diabetics which was made of almonds only. 



Food and drug analyses, R. E. Rose and B. H. Bridges {Fla. Quart. BuL 

 Dept. Ayr., 20 {1910), No. 1, pp. 106-l.'i2). — According to the authors' summary, 

 a total of 327 samples of foods and drugs was examined, of which 217 were 

 classed as official samples. Of these, 8 w-ere found to be adulterated and 42 

 misbranded. The samples examined included flavoring extracts, coffee, beer, 

 wine, baking ' powders, condensed milk, olive oils, sirups, spices, and other 

 similar materials, as well as drugs. 



Report of the department of food and drugs, state board of health, for 

 January, 1910, and inspectors' reports for the month of January, 1910, 

 H. E. Barnard {Mo. Bui. Iwd. Dd. Health, 13 {1910), No. 1, pp. 3. J,).—Ot 142 

 samples of beverages, chocolate, butter, meat products and mince-meat, and 

 other food materials, 94 were found to be legal. A number of drugs were also 

 examined. 



During the month of January, 91S dairies, stores, bakeries, hotels, and food 

 manufacturing plants were inspected, of wliich the greater number were found 

 to be in good or fair condition. 



