POODS HUMAN NUTRITION. 167 



Quotations from the authors' summary follow : 



" The toxicity of caffein in the rabbit varies with the mode of its adminis- 

 tration, being least when given by mouth and gi-eatest by intravenous admin- 

 istration. Tlie toxicity is from 15 to 20 per cent greater by subcutaneous 

 injections than by mouth, but is about half of that when injected into the 

 peritoneal cavity. . . . 



" The resistance of the guinea pig to caffein, as of the rabbit, is greatest when 

 given by mouth. . . . The adult cat is less resistant than the guinea pig or 

 rabbit to caffein. . . . The minimum fatal dose for dogs was found to be the 

 same by mouth as by subcutaneous injection and is almost the same as for the 

 cat. The toxicity of caffein varies in the guinea pig according to season of the 

 year. 



"Age is liliewise a factor in the toxicity of caffein. young animals being more 

 resistant than the full-grown and older animals ; this was shown in experiments 

 on rabbits, cats, and dogs. The symptoms of caffein poisoning al.so were dif- 

 ferent in puppies and in full-grown dogs. Different diets, such as carrots and 

 oats, did not influence the resistance of rabbits and guinea pigs to caffein. Low 

 protein diet tends to decrease resistance to caffein in dogs. Young growing dogs 

 are less resistant to caffein on a meat than on a milk diet. Caffein is not 

 cumulative in the rabbit or dog, even if administered for a considerable length 

 of time. Some degree of tolerance may be induced in the rabbit under certain 

 conditions, but not in dogs under the conditions of the experiments made in 

 this investigation. . . . The toxicity of caffein is probably increased under 

 pathological conditions, since comparatively smaller doses were fatal to rabbits, 

 cats, and dogs, when marked lesions not due to caffein were found at autopsy. 

 Glycosuria was observed in rabbits, guinea pigs, and cats when caffein was given 

 in suflScient amounts." 



See also a previous note (E. S. R., 2.5, p. 470). 



Coca cola (sirup), A. McGill (Lab. Inland Rev. Dept. Canada Bui. 232, 

 1912, pp. 11). — A summary of the analyses of OS samples of the sirup made to 

 determine their cocaine and caffein content is given. No trace of cocaine was 

 found in any, while the amount of caffein varied from 0.15 to 0.72 of a grain per 

 ounce, the average being 0.60. 



State and municipal meat inspection and municipal slaughterhouses, 

 A. D. Mei.vin {U. S. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Anim. IikIuh. Ri>f. 1010. pp. 2^t-25.'i, dgtns. 

 ■I ; a re. 1S5, pp. 2'tl~25'i, dgms. J/). — Inasmuch, as is stated, only a little 

 more than one-half of the total meat supply of the United States is subject to 

 the Federal inspection, the need for State or local inspection is pointed out, 

 and the problems of local inspection are discussed. The municipal or central 

 slaughterhouses recently erected in Paris, Tex., and Nashville, Tenn., are 

 described and plans and specifications given for a central abattoir and septic 

 tank. 



The hourly chemical and energy transformations in the dog, after giv- 

 ing a large quantity of meat, H. B. Williams, J. A. Riche, and G. LusK 

 (Amer. Jour. Physiol., 29 (1912), No. J,, Proe. Amcr. Physiol. Soc., 2'/ (1911), 

 pp. XXXIII, XXXIV). — The experiments here reported were carried out in 

 a calorimeter of the Atwater-Rosa type. A dog fed 700 gm. of meat at noon 

 of the previous day was placed in the calorimeter chamber between 10 and 11 

 a. m., and his metabolism measured. At 12 m. the animal was given 1,200 

 gm. of meat and again placed in the apparatus. The heat production and other 

 factors of metabolism were determined hourly for 20 hours. 



" It was found that the direct and the indirect calorimetry agreed perfectly. 



" It was found that the heat production rose largely, and that this increase 

 in heat production was proportional to the nitrogen eliminated in the urine, and 



