FOODS HUMAN NUTRITION. 67 



in these dietaries in comparison with American dietaries is probably due to the 

 large amounts of milli which were consumed. 



Sodium, chlorid and potassium salts, E. Biernacki (Ztschr. Expt. Path. u. 

 Ther., 8 (1911), No. 3, pp. 685-694). — The author reports and discusses experi- 

 ments which have to do with his theory regarding the relation between sodium 

 chlorid and potassium metabolism (E. S. R., 24, p. 172). 



The pathogenesis of pellagra, H. Raubitschek (Wiener Klin. Wchnschr., 

 (1010), No. 26, pp. 963-965). — The results are presented of an experimental 

 study of the effects of exposure to sunlight upon maize-fed animals with 

 reference to a possible relation to the etiology of pellagra (see below). 



Concerning the pathogenesis of pellagra, H. Raucitschek (Centbl. Bakt. 

 [etc.], 1. Abt., Orig., 57 (1911), No. 3, pp. i93-208).— Experiments are reported 

 on the effects of an alcoholic extract of maize when fed to animals exposed to 

 sunlight (see below). 



Pellagra and its possible relation to maize according to some recent views, 

 C. H. Lavindee (Pub. Health and Mar. Hosp. Serv. U. S., Pub. Health Rpts.. 26 

 (1911), No. 8, pp. 199-208).— \ digest of data is presented particularly of 

 investigations by Raubitschek (see above), which have to do with the effects of 

 sunlight upon animals fed Indian corn in association with the question of a 

 possible relation to the etiologj' of pellagra, the work being u contribution to 

 the study of the wholesomeness of corn as food. The data presented concern 

 the possible relation between pellagra and the occurrence of a photodyuamic 

 substance in Indian corn. 



In general, the author cited believes that he has demonstrated the presence 

 of such material in corn. An alcohol-soluble substance of this character was 

 isolated from maize and its effects studied in experiments with animals. From 

 his experiments Raubitschek concludes that "a diet of maize (good or bad), 

 when administered under the influence of sunlight, is deleterious to white mice, 

 and that in this we have relations closely analogous to what is seen in fago- 

 pyrismus," and further that "by alcoholic extraction of maize meal (removal 

 of fat) the active body is removed, and hence for this reason extracted polenta, 

 free of fat and color stuffs, even under the influence of sunlight, is not directly 

 harmful as a food." 



He states further that he does not attempt to bring his experimental results 

 into a strict relation with the etiology of pellagra or to assume for it a photo- 

 dynamic basis, or even to conclude that this disease is produced by an almost 

 exclusive diet of maize, good or bad, which displays its harmful effects flrst 

 under the influence of light. It is pointed out that the results are to be con- 

 sidered as very suggestive but not yet conclusive. 



The distribution of extractives in mammalian muscles, O. voN FiJRTH and 

 C. ScHWABZ (Boichem. Ztschr., 30 (1911), No. 6, pp. U3-Jf32).— Horse and dog 

 flesh were used in the investigations reported as to the distribution of the 

 different nitrogenous constituents in muscular tissue. 



In a comparison of normal and fatigued muscle the authors did not observe 

 any marked variation from the usual distribution of such constituents. In 

 general, they conclude that creatin and especially carnosin are the most 

 abundant of muscle extractives. The desirability of further physiological 

 studies of carnosin is pointed out. 



The relation of brain phosphatids to tissue metabolites, W. Koch and 

 W. W. Williams (Jour. Pharmacol, and Expt. Ther., 2 (1910), No. 3, pp. 253- 

 26Ji). — According to the authors, the observation that the accumulation of 

 potassium in the cell can be more satisfactorily explained by the fact that it 

 is combined with kephalin, than on the theory of any hypothetical semiperme- 

 able membrane, should be capable of extension to tissue metabolites. The 



