64 EXPEKIMENT STATION KECORD. 



.•mother instance of the principle of abundance ruling the structures and ener- 

 gies of the animal body. There is. however, a theory that in just this single 

 instance the minimum is meant by nature to be also the optimum. But it is 

 a theory for the support of which there is not a single fact. On the contrary, 

 some facts seem to indicate that nature meant diffip^i-ently. Such facts are. 

 for instance, the abundance of proteolytic enzyms in the digestive canal and the 

 great capacity of the canal for absorption of proteids. Such luxurious pro- 

 vision for digestion and absorption of proteids is fair evidence that nature 

 expects the organism to make liberal use of them. Then there is a fact that 

 proteid material is stored away for iise in emergencies, just as carbohydrates 

 and fats are stored away. . . . The storing away of proteid, like the storing 

 away of glycogen and fat, for use in- expected and unexpected exceptional 

 conditions, is exactly like the superabundance of tissue in an organ of an 

 animal, or like an extra beam in the support of a building or a bridge — a 

 factor of safety." 



The author believes, therefore, that " with regard to the function of supply 

 of tissue and energy by means of proteid food nature meant it should be gov- 

 erned by the same principle of affluence which governs the entire construction 

 of the animal for the safety of its life and the perpetuation of its species." 



Concerning the extractives of muscle. VI, The identity of ignotin and 

 carnosin, W. Gulewitsch {ZtficJii: Physiol. Chcm., 50 (1906), No. 2-3, pp. 

 20Jf-20S). — The investigations reported showed the identity of ignotin and car- 

 nosin, and according to the author the name of " ignotin " should be dropped. 



Protein metaholism when carbohydrates are taken, J. E. Johansson and 

 W. IIellgren (I ]t.'<al(i LakdicfOr. ForlKtiidl.. ii. so:. 11 (1906); *S'»/<. VII, pp. 

 9). — Experiments with a man who was engaged in light muscular work showed 

 that neither carbohydrates nor fat, when added to the diet, diminished the 

 excretion of nitrogen. On the other hand, if the protein consumption was 

 increased an increase in nitrogen was noted in 2 hours. 



On the excretion of nitrogen, creatinin, and uric acid in fever, J. B. 

 Ieathes {Join: I'hiisiol., 3'>, ]9<n). So. 3, pp. 205-21.'f, figs. 2). — In the experi- 

 ments reported, the increased nitrogen metabolism which was observed accom- 

 panying fever, " was found to involve an increased output of both creatinin and 

 uric acid, as well as of total nitrogen. But the increased output was most 

 marked in the case of uric acid and least marked in the case of creatinin." 



On the elimination of sulphocyanates from the blood, and their supposed 

 formation in the salivary glands, D. H. de Souza {Jonr. I'liijsioL, 3't {1907), 

 \(). '/. i)p. 332-3.'i5). — According to the author's investigations, "sulphocyanates 

 in tlie food are readily absorbed and remain as such in the body for a consider- 

 al)le time. . . . 



"In only one doubtful case |<^f the experiments reported], then, was there 

 anything to show that sulphocyanates are formed in the salivary glands. In 

 fact the evidence leads one to conclude that this substance is not a specific 

 secretion of the salivary glands, but merely a waste product in the blood which 

 is turned out by the salivary and other glands, together with and in a propor- 

 tional concentration to the other salts of the secretions." 



Draft of a model State pure food and drug law, j\I. N. Kline (Amct:. Jour. 

 Pliann., 7,9 {1907), No. 2, p(). 7.'/-7S). — This draft of a pure food and drug law 

 was suggested by the chairman of the committee on legislation of the National 

 Wholesale Druggists' Association. 



Food inspection decisions, H. W. Wiley, F. L. Dunlap, and G. F. McCabe 

 (r. N. licpi. A<ir.. Food Insii. Decisions 09. pp. 3: 70-72, pp. .'/ ; 73. pp. 2). — The 

 topics covered by these decisions are the inspection of food and drugs and the 



