POODS TiTTMAN NITTRTTTON. 265 



iiiorcMscd lilixxl in-cssni'c. rcdiicctl flic liciiKi^lnbiii (•(inlciit of llic Mood, ;iiul lind 

 oidy .1 sli.ulitly toxic ('ITtHJ't. 



Exijeriinents on absorption in the large intestine, F. Keller ( Experi- 

 hiciitrUc licitiiigc sur Fragc Rcsnrptifiii tin DickduDti. Inaug. Diss., Univ. 

 lircslaii, I'JO'J, pp. 39). — lu the experimeutiil data reported the resorption of 

 undigested protein (sodium casein) and egg albumin was not noted in the large 

 intestine in the case of dogs or man. Peptonized protein was absorbed but 

 in much smaller amount than in the small intestine. Grape sugar and cane 

 sugar and also Aery small amounts of 0.5-1 per cent solutions of sodium bicar- 

 bonate were absorbed in tbe large intestine. 



Experiments on the effects of overfeeding and muscular work and upon 

 resorption in the intestine, Heinsheimer {Med. Klinik. 190S, No. 50, pp. 1915, 

 191G; ahs. in Zentbl. Gesam. Pligsiol. u. Path. Stoffwechscls, n. set:, .'/ (1909), 

 A'o. 6, p. 229). — From the experimental data the conclusion is drawn that the 

 digestive power of the intestine was in no way diminished by the enforced mus- 

 cular work. It appeared rather that muscular work increased digestion, partic- 

 ularly that of fat when excessive quantities were taken. 



Fat resorption by man and animals under pathological conditions, M. 

 Adler {Zt.sclir. Klin. Med., 66 {190S). p. 302; ahs. in Zcnthl. (jcsani, PliysioJ. a. 

 Path, ^iotfu-cchseis, n. scr., Jf {1909), No. 6, p. 229).— Under pathological 

 conditions cooked bacon was more readily absorbed in the intestine than raw. 



Cellulose and hemicellulose digestion and the nutritive value of these sub- 

 stances to man, H. Lohriscii (Ztschr. Expt. Path. u. Ther., 5 {1909), No. 3, 

 pp. .'i78-539). — The author reports and discusses extended investigations of the 

 digestion and nutritive value of cellulose and hemicellulose. 



These substances, he points out, are closely related chemically but usually 

 can be clearly distinguished by means of their chemical properties. As regards 

 I'h.ASiological value, they show no marked differences. Under normal conditions 

 about 50 iier cent of the cellulose and hemicellulose taken in the food is digested 

 by man, but in cases of chronic constipation as much as 70 or SO per cent is 

 digested. It is possible for a man to digest much larger quantities of hemicel- 

 lulose than cellulose. 



The manner of digestion of hemicellulose and cellulose by man is the same 

 as in the case of starch, these substances being changed in the intestine into 

 their respective sugars, but the transformation into sugar and resorption take 

 place more slowly than in the case of starch. The i-esorbed material is com- 

 pletely burned in the body and therefore protects protein and fat from com- 

 bustion. There is no doubt that both hemicellulose and cellulose can be used 

 for glycogen formation if a sufficient amount is resorbed. The pi'oduction in 

 the small intestine of volatile fatty acids from cellulose and hemicellulose was 

 not noted, but the possibility of the formation of a small amount in the large 

 intestine is pointed out. 



Cellulose and hemicellulose the author considers harmless for diabetics, even 

 in severe cases, and suggests that they use particularly hemicellulose as a 

 Itrincipal substitute for the more easily digested carbohydrates. 



A bibliography is ai)pended to the report. 



Phosphorus compounds as brain foods, W. Koch (Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc, 

 52 {1909), No. IS, pp. 13S 1-1383). — This is a general discussion of the subject, 

 on the basis of the author's studies of the composition of normal and diseased 

 brains and other data, which led to the following conclusions : 



"There is no evidence of any need to supply phosphorus to the brain in con- 

 ditions of exhaustion, as a lack of that element has not y<'t been demonstrated. 

 The actual amount lost in the exhaustion of general paralysis can not, of course, 



