770 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



period, as the end products of miclek- acid nu'tabolisin are promptly recovered in 

 the urine and feces. An important differeucc was observed in the case of man 

 and animals with respect to the cleavaKe of purin bases, since in man the 

 greater i)ortion is fotnid in the urea and other uric acid constituents of the 

 urine and only a very small portion is recovered as purin bases. The investiga- 

 tions led to the conclusion that in the case of man uric acid is no more to be 

 regarded as a metabolic product than it is in the case of animals, but that it 

 is used as a building product. 



The elimination of total nitrogen, urea, and anamonia following' the ad- 

 aninistration of some amino acids, glycylglycin and glycylglycin anhydrid, 

 P. A. Lkvenk and G. M. Meyp:r (AiHcr. Juiir. I'lnjsioL, J.l {JUO'J), A'o. .'/, pp. 

 21Jf-230). — Gelatin was one of the materials included in these experiments 

 which were made with dogs as subjects. 



According to the authors, all of the excessive nitrogen added as gelatin to a 

 standard diet *' is eliminated in the form of urea. Thus, this experiment leads 

 to the conclusioTi that either diketopiperazins do not enter into the composition 

 of the protein molecule, or that the anhydrids of peptids within the protein 

 molecule offer less resistance than when in a free state." 



Effects of the presence of carbohydrates upon the artificial digestion of 

 casein, X. E. (Joldtiiwaite iJour. Biol. Vhciii., 7 iVJlO), Xo. 2, pp. 60-81). — • 

 According to the author, the experimental data recorded show that each of 

 the carbohydates tested (glucose, maltose, dextrose, dextrin, and galactose) 

 retarded the digestion of casein, the retardation being proportional to the 

 amount of added carbohydrate. 



On the occurrence of lipase in human tissues and its variation in disease, 

 M. C. WiNTERNiTz and C. II. Meloy (Jour. Med. Research, 22 (IDIO), A'o. 1, pp. 

 107-128). — Some of the conclusions drawn from this extended series of investi- 

 gations are quoted below. Many of the other deductions have to do with patho- 

 logical conditions. 



" In general the nearer the organ approaches the normal histologically, in 

 our series, the greater is its lipolytic action. 



" There is apparently no decrease in the lipolytic activity in old age. 



" The lipolytic activity of the various tissues at birth is very low, but it 

 increases with extreme rapidity during the first few days of life. . . . 



" There is no relation between the acidity produced by the action of the 

 lipase on the tissue extract and the amount of hydrolysis of ethyl butyrate by 

 the same extract." 



Gastric lipase in newborn infants, J. Ibrahim and T. Kopec (Ztschr. Biol., 

 53 (1909), No. 5-6, pp. 201-217). — According to the author, a lipase can be 

 obtained from the mucous membrane of the stomach of new-born infants and 

 feti in the last months. 



Experiments on the resorption of fat in the small intestine, W. Croneb 

 (Biocliem. Ztschr., 23 (1909), Xo. 1-2, pp. 97-136). — From extended investiga- 

 tions the author concludes that variations of tlie small intestine differ qualita- 

 tively and quantitatively with reference to fat resorption. Soaps are resorbed 

 only in the lower portion while emulsified neutral fats are resorbed throughout 

 the small intestine, though more abundantly in the lower portion. The amount 

 of fatty acid present has an effect on the amount of fat resorbed; 



Concerning the physiology of water and salt, O. Cohnheim, Kreglinger, 

 and Kreglinger (Ztschr. Physiol. Chem., 63 (1909), Xo. 6, pp. 413-431).— From a 

 study of conditions at high altitude, the authors conclude that an increase in 

 hemoglobin concentration of the blood is not certain at an altitude of .3,000 to 

 4, .560 meters. Severe muscular work caused a dilution of the blood, and profuse 

 perspiration a lowering of the chlorin content of the body, which was followed 



