68 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Demands for heat and the calorimetric value of a ration with respect to 

 temperature or climate, J. Lefevre {Coiiipt. Rriid. Hoc. Biol. [/'«/■/.<?], 60 

 {I'JiH'i). \o. 15, pp. 7-50-75S). — Using a special form of calorimeter, which he has 

 elnl)orated, the author measured the heat output of the body at temperatures 

 ranging from — 1 to +20° C. The results, which included the calculated 

 l.'itcnt heat of excreted water rapor. ranged from 1.000 calories at the liigher 

 temperature to 5.400 calories at the lower temperature per 24 hours for a man 

 wearing medium-weight clothing. This indicates, in the author's opinion, the 

 need of more energy in the diet in winter than in summer. 



The body's utilization of fat, F. S. Mathews (Pop. Sci. Mo.. OS (1906), 

 Nu. 5. pp. Ji2o-430). — Modern views regarding the formation and utilization 

 functions of fat, obesity and fat formation, etc., are summarized. 



According to the author. " the question of the amount ot fat in any indi- 

 vidual is a very comi)lex one. depending on such a variety of factors as condi- 

 tion of digestion, appetite, character and quantity of food, amount of exercise, 

 and the proper working of a number of body glands." 



The right method of eating and the evils of eating too rapidly or too 

 slowly, M. EiNiioKN {Ztxclir. DUltct. ii. I'tii/s. Thcr.. rol. S. p. O.^J ; (ibs. in Hug. 

 ifinidscJuni. 16 i1!)()6). \o. !). pp. 501, 502). — The author believes that harmful 

 results attend eating either too rapidly or too slowly. In the former case 

 serious digestive disturbances may be induced, while the latter may cause 

 mental depression which leads to chronic inanition. 



Vegetable products in feces, F. Netolitzky (Die Vegeiuhilicn in den 

 Fiices. Vienna: Moritz Pcrles, 1906. pp. 100. fi(/.s. 39; rev. in Ztschi: Uiitcr- 

 sHch. Nahr. n. GeniissmtJ., 11 (1906). Xo. 6. p. .176). — The identification in the 

 feces of residues of vegetable origin by means of the microscope is described. 



ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



The nutritive value of several kinds of hay, F. Tangl and S. Weiseb 

 (Landic. Jahrh.. 35 (1906), No. 1-2, pp. 159-223).— The digestibility and nutri- 

 tive value of ordinary hay, hay from irrigated meadows and moors, Alpine hay, 

 alfalfa hay, and sour hay were studied, the digestion experiments being made 

 with horses, steers, and sheep. 



Taking into account the energy value of the food, urine, feces, and the esti- 

 mated energy value of the methan excreted, the authors calculated the physi- 

 ological luitritive value — that is. the energy value of the food less the energy 

 value of the excretory products. 



The authors point out tliat the experiments furnish a demonstration of the 

 belief that horses digest their food less thoroughly than ruminants, and that 

 the smaller nutritive effect of the organic matter of hay in the case of horses 

 is attributable to the greater loss in the feces — that is. to inferior digesti- 

 bility. The results indicate that a botanical analysis of hay furnislies a satis- 

 factory means of judging of its nutritive quality. 



It was found that although cattle refuse hay made in the ordinary way 

 from sedges and rushes, yet they will readily eat these plants when cured as 

 sour hay — that is. allowed to ferment in pits. The nutritive value of this hay 

 is, however, small at best. 



The nutritive value of dried wine lees, S. Weiser (Lundir. Jaltrb., 35 

 (1906), No. 1-2, pp. 22-'i-23S). — Digestion exi)eriments with horses and steers 

 showed that dried wine lees did not have a high nutritive value, in part at least 

 owing to the stems and seeds present, which constituted 22 per cent of the whole. 

 The urine was analyzed, 



