FOODS HUMAN NUTRITION. 257 



Mating experiments with, bees, A. C. Miller (Rliodc IxJand Sta. Rpf. 1908, 

 pp. ,U>(1-.UI, fhj. J). — The bolief has long existed' that control of the mating of 

 the (Innu's and queens must be secured before any very marked progress in the 

 development and fixing of desirable traits will be possible. Elating takes place 

 while the insects are Hying, but when the males and females ai-e confined either 

 to a hive or to large inelosures they as a rule fail to mate. But few exceptions 

 to Ihe rule are known, several of which are here mentioned. 



The author reports investigations conducted during 1907-8, in which a cloth 

 house 9 ft. square and 9 ft. high was erected. Every factor which could be 

 thought of is said to be embodied in the experiments, but so far without suc- 

 c(>ss. Just what the inclosure has to do with the mating is not known. That 

 sight is not the primary means for finding or attraction seems evident, and the 

 only remaining proliability seems to be in sound. It is suggested that the 

 instinct of the queen and drone to fly high has to do with the getting away from 

 the noise of the horde of workers. 



Silkworm rearing as a popular pursuit, T. A. Keleiier (Guide to Nature, 

 J (tOOS), Xo. 9, pp. Jl 1-320, jUjs. 10). — A popular account accompanied by 

 illustrations. 



FOODS— HUMAN NUTRITION. 



The influence of sodium benzoate on the nutrition and health of man ( U. 8. 

 Dcpt. Agr. lipt. SS, pp. 7S4. dgnis. 8, charts .'/). — This volume contains the 

 detailed reports of investigations made by three members of the Referee Board 

 of Consulting Scientific Experts, appointed by President Roosevelt to study 

 the influence of sodium benzoate on the nutrition and health of man. A bihli- 

 ographj- of the ^iiore important work on benzoate of soda is appended. The 

 main conclusions reached by the Referee Board are as follows: 



" Sodium benzoate in small doses (imder 0.5 gm. per day) mixed with the 

 food is without deleterious or poisonous action and is not injurious to health. 



" Sodium benzoate in large doses (up to 4 gm. per day) mixed with the food 

 has not been found to exert anj- deleterious effect on the general health, nor 

 to act as a poison in the general acceptation of the term. In some directions 

 there vrere slight modifications in certain physiological processes, the exact 

 significance of which modifications is not known. 



" The admixture of sodium benzoate with food in small or large doses has not 

 been found to injuriously affect or impair the quality or nutritive value of such 

 food." 



Alt ('.rpcriDioituJ sfadij of the influence of sodium benzoate on the nutrition 

 and health of man, R. H. Chittenden (pp. 9-292). — Using G men as subjects 

 the effects of sodium benzoate were studied, the experiment as a whole covering 

 a period of 12o days. A period of 2 weeks, during which records were made 

 of the subjects under normal conditions, was followed by a benzoate period of 

 2 months, in which each subject receiA-ed iter day 0.3 gm. of benzoate of soda, 

 designated as the "small dose." Next followed an "after period" of 10 days, 

 in which no benzoate was given, and then a 4 weeks' period with larger doses 

 of benzoate of soda, ranging from O.G gm. per day at the beginning to 4 gm. 

 per day at the close of the period. During this period of "large doses," cover- 

 ing 28 days, each subject took 53.2 gm. of benzoate. The investigation closed 

 with an " after period " of 10 days. 



Tln-ouffhont the wholi,' time data were collected regarding food con.suniiitiou 

 and coiii])<)sition, urine and feces, results t)f clinical and medical examinations, 

 bacteriological studies of feces, blood count, etc.. the results of the benzoate 

 periods being comi)ared with those obtained during the normal periods. 



