366 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 36 



The calcium and magnesium content of normal urine, C. F. Nelson and 

 W. E. Burns (Jour. Biol. Cliem., 28 (1916), No. 1, pp. 237-240) .—Data are re- 

 ported i-egarding the calcium and magnesium content of the urine of 25 appar- 

 ently normal individuals on an ordinary mixed diet. The results are sum- 

 marized by the authors as follows : 



"The average daily output of calcium and magnesium (calculated as oxid) 

 for five-day periods varied in the cases studied from 0.1685 to 0.1468 gm. of 

 calcium, and 0.1912 to 0.313 gm. of magnesium. 



" The daily output of calcium and magnesium of 25 apparently healthy in- 

 dividuals showed 17 in which calcium was excreted in larger amounts than 

 magnesium, and 8 in which magnesium predominated over calcium. The 

 largest amount of calcium (calculated as oxid) excreted in 1 day was 0.4875 

 gm, ; magnesium (calculated as oxid), 0.416 gm. The smallest amount of 

 calcium was 0.099 gm. ; magnesium. 0.118 gm. 



" Either calcium or magnesium may be excreted by way of the urine in the 

 larger amount in the normal individual. Whichever element predominates 

 does so constantly, or very nearly so, and seems to be independent of the 

 character of the food ingested." 



Contribution to the knowledge of the enzjrms of the large intestine, D. 

 Maestrini (Arch. Farmacol. Sper. e Sci. Aff., 22 {1916), Nbs. 11, pp. 391-416; 

 12, pp. 411-428, figs. 2). — The work of other investigators is reviewed and ex- 

 periments are reported with laboratory animals (dogs, sheep, etc.). 



The author concludes that in the proximal colon the processes taking place 

 differ from those in the other portion of the colon. The proximal colon ap- 

 parently does not contain a proteolytic ferment similar to trypsin or pepsin 

 but does, however, contain a peptolytic ferment. In the colon of the dog there 

 is a lipase which is not present in that of the sheep. In the case of the dog 

 and the sheep there is present in the first portion of the colon a ferment 

 which breaks down starch. Nitrogen is also present in the colon of both these 

 animals. 



ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



International catalogue of scientific literature. L. — General biology (/«- 

 temat. Cat. Set. Lit., 9 {1912), pp. Till +117; 10 (1913), pp. Vin+138; 11 

 {1918), pp. nil +130; 12 {1914), PP. VIII +111; 13 {1916), pp. VIII+93).— 

 These numbers continue the catalogue previously noted (E. S. R., 24, p. 670). 

 The primary divisions catalogued are general biology, methods and apparatus, 

 general morphology, general physiology, and general cytology. 



Experimental studies on growth. — VIII, The influence of a diet deficient 

 in fats, and of the same diet with cholesterol added, upon the growth of the 

 white mouse, T. B. Robertson {Jour. Biol. Chem., 27 {1916), No. 2, pp. 393- 

 402, figs. 3). — Continuing the studies previously noted (E. S. R., 35, p. 864), 

 the author reports experiments in which a diet composed of boiled and mashed 

 potatoes, defatted bran, and white of egg, with the addition of small amounts 

 of chlorophyll and ferric chlorid, was fed to mice four or five M'eeks of age. 



The feeding of this diet led to an initial loss of weight, followed by a resump- 

 tion of the retarded growth. A sharp decline in weight, accompanied by a 

 hyperirritability of the skin and terminating in death, was the ultimate result. 



" The addition of cholesterol to the above diet prevents the initial loss of 

 weight, but does not otherwise improve the welfare of the animals, the average 

 duration of life of the animals receiving cholesterol being actually less than 

 that of the animals which do not receive cholesterol. It follows that although 

 growth is possible on the diet described, maintenance of the tissue gained is not. 

 Decline of weight therefore occurs at an age when the diminishing velocity of 



