ANIMAI; PRODUCTION. 7(>1 



M:irkO(l (>ffocts wero iinlcil. huwc.cr. with olilitin •■ind iiovaiii .uid i hose bodies 

 were ;ii)i)Mreiitly siiiiil.-ir in llicir pi-itpcrl ics. Xcosin also in-ochucd i)liysioloi;ieMl 

 effects. Imt. owiii;;; to a lack of material, it was not jiossihle to dc'teniiiiic 

 wlietlier or not rliis hody was related to oltlitin and iiovain. 



The extractives of muscles. IV, The occui'rence of carnosin, carnitin, and 

 luethylguanidin in meat, It. Ivrimi!i:i{(I (Ztsclu. I'hiisio]. Vhcin., J/S (HlOd). A o. 

 .7, pp. 'fl.'-'ilS). — From the experimental data tlic author eoneludes that the 

 carnosin. carnitin. and methyl.^uanidiu found in meat extrai-t exist in tlic lixin.i; 

 muscular tissue. 



Muscle extractives. V, The constitution of carnitin, R. KiuiiBEm; {Ztuchr. 

 I'hi/siol. Cliciii.. .'iD UnnC).- \ii. I. pp. S!)-!).',). — A ])roj,'ress rejjort of the study of 

 the cliemical constitution of carnitin. l''rom data at present availalde it aji- 

 pears that carnitin is a derivative <>f trinR-thylaniin or contains a trimethylaniin 

 .i,'rou|>. 



Intestinal gases of man, .T. A. Frii:s (Aiiicr. .four. I'll i/siol.. li; (t!)()6). .\'o. 

 ■'i. i>p. '/6'.s-.}7.J I. — On an average the samples of intestinal gas .analyzed con- 

 tained l>y voliune 10.3 per cent carbon dio.xid, 0.7 ]»er cent oxygen. 2!).(; i)er cent 

 methan, and .")'.>.-i per cent free nitrogen. The author believes that the large 

 amount of free nitrogen is not a decomposition ])roduct. hut ratlier atinos])heric 

 nitrogen swallowed as air with the li(iuid .and solid foods and with the saliva, 

 the oxygen of tlie air having been absoi'lted into tlie blood or having Itecai util- 

 ized in some way l>y tlie living body. 



.Vs to the value of tliese indifferent gases, carbon dioxid, marsli gas. and 

 oxygen, in man and .animals little is definitely known. " We can Init conjecture 

 and ascrilte to . . . | such a mixture | a role of usefulness in the scheme of 

 digestion and assimilation of the food, in that this gas mixture may serve as a 

 regulating agency to regulate the growth of micro-organisms in the digestive 

 tract, checking the growth of some, preventing the growth of others which 

 may lind their way into the intestines." 



ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



Feeding stuffs, P. Dechambke (Lc.s Ailmentu dii Betail. Paris: Asselui & 

 Houzcau, 1906, pp. XV +518). — A liandlwok of information regarding materials 

 of importance in feeding farm animals. Composition, digestibility, nutritive 

 ratio, intensive feeding, and related (piestions are discussed, and the cereal 

 gi-ains and different feeding stuffs, ini'lnding connuercial l)y-products. are con- 

 sidered in dc^tail. 



Concerning the role of asparagin in nitrogen metabolism in the animal 

 body, (". Lkiima.nn {Arch. J'ln/siol. [I'fliiiicr], JJ.^ (VJDIl). Xo. 7-8, pp. .?•?.';- 

 ■I'll. III. I). — Powdered asparagin and asparagin pressed into small tablets which 

 were coated witli celhiloidin were compared .as a part of the ration iu exjieri- 

 ments with a dog, the celluloidin being used to i-etard the action of the digestive 

 juices. Tlie conclusion was reached th.at when such action was hindered amids 

 exercised a decided and favorable effect on nitrogen metabolism. 



'IMie author ])oints out that in earlier experinients in which asparagin has 

 iieeu mixed directly with the feed and so taken in a form in which it was im- 

 medi.ately soluble unfavorable results have been obtained and that, when aspara- 

 gin occurs normally in feeding stuffs, it is inclosed in cells or is distributed in a 

 large bulk of feeding stuff so that it is very slowly availalile to the bacteria 

 which convert it into comiilicated nitrogenous compounds. 



The utilization of beet tops and leaves in the feeding of farm animals, 

 P. Dii'ELOTii (/b'oc. Aliiiiciit. h'dlioini. lictail, Cuniptc licmlH 111. Voiuj., 1906, 



