1X2 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



found to be colored with coal-tar colors. In addition, to sucrose, which was found 

 in all the .specimens, nearly all the candies contained glucose and many starch and 

 dextrose. No excess of mineral matter or other injurious substance, unless the coal- 

 tar colors lie regarded as injurious, was found. 



A number of artificial digestion experiments are reported on the effect produced 

 by the coal-tar colors, suramin, Bismarck brown, rhodamiu, rose bengal, eosin, acid 

 magenta, and methyl violet. The effect of all these coloring matters upon peptic 

 digestion was studied and the eifect of rhodamin, methyl violet, and eosin upon pan- 

 creatic digestion. In all the tests 0.125 gm. of the coloring was used with 100 cc. of 

 the digestive ferment solution and 1 gm. of beef. 



"In every case the presence of a coal-tar color exerted some retarding influence on 

 digestion. The results indicate that eosin and acid magenta interfere decidedly with 

 peptic digestion and that methyl violet produces just as decided interference with 

 pancreatic digestion. . . . 



"It therefore seems to me safe to assert that any substance so totally foreign to 

 food as a coal-tar dye, which can be shown, when used in reasonable amounts, to 

 retard artificial digestion, must rest under grave suspicion.'" 



Handbook of subsistence stores ( U. S. War Dept., Office Commissary General of 

 Subsistence, Doc. 19, pp. 199, fig. 1). — The foods, condiments, and other materials 

 included uuder the head of subsistence stores for the United States Army are 

 described. In many cases processes of manufacture are given, as well as statistical 

 and other information of a useful character. Among other points the effect of 

 freezing and of heat on canned goods is discussed. 



Subsistence manual (U. S. War Dept., Office Commissary General of Subsistence, 

 Doc. 21, pp. 57). — In addition to matter concerning the purchase and transportation 

 of subsistence stores, information is given concerning the rations, food materials, 

 and care of food and other stores supplied by the Subsistence Department of the 

 United States Army. 



Silage, C. D. Smith (Michigan Sta. 1,'pt. 1896, pp. 107-109). — The yield per acre and 

 composition of corn cultivated in different ways and of sorghum raised for silage is 

 given. The sorghum silage kept well. Owing to the woody stems it contained a 

 high percentage of crude fiber which was not relished by the stock. 



The velvet bean ( Florida Ayr., 25 {1898), Xo. 13, p. 176). — Notes are given on the 

 value of the velvet beau for green manuring and on the use of the green beans as 

 food. The latter shelled and cooked caused serious although not fatal illness. 



Feeding value of potatoes, C. D. Smith (Michigan Sta. L'pt. 1896, p. 107). — 

 This is a brief summary of work reported in Bulletin 149 of the station (E. S. R., 9, 

 p. 1081). 



On the influence of muscular exercise, sweating, and massage on metabolism, 

 J. C. Dunlop, D. N. Baton, R. Stockman, and I. Maccadam (Jour. Physiol., 22 

 (1897), Xo. 1-2, pp. 69-92). — Five experiments were made with men. In three the 

 effect of excessive muscular exercise was studied, in one the effect of sweating, and 

 in one the effect of massage. The food, urine, and feces Avere analyzed and the 

 income and outgo of nitrogen was determined. 



From the experiments the following conclusions were reached: Sweating and 

 massage does not produce any marked influence on metabolism. 



"Excessive muscular work causes an increased catabolism of protein, this being 

 shown by the increased excretions of nitrogen and of sulphur in the urine. The 

 protein consumed is muscle protein, shown by the increased nitrogen and sulphur 

 excretions not being accompanied by increased excretions of uric acid, extract- 

 ive nitrogen, and phosphorus, muscle being a tissue poor in nucleo proteins which 

 produce these waste products. If the subject who performs excessive muscular 

 work be in poor training, this consumption of muscle protein is accompanied by 

 the consumption of the protein of other tissues which contain nucleo proteins, as 

 shown by the increased excretions of uric acid, extractive nitrogen, and phosphorus. 



