1918.] FOODS HUMAN NUTRITION. 569 



evidence that there is any reason to attribute pellagra to this cause. Of the 

 profound importance of proper amounts and relationsliips of the inorganic 

 constituents of the diet our published results have furnished many examples. 

 This, together with proteins of poor quality taken regularly at low planes, and 

 an inadequate supply of fat-soluble A, has contributed to nutritive failure in 

 fill diets described by Goldberger and his associates as being employed by 

 peoples where the incidence of pellagra is high." 



A bibliography is appended. 



The nutritive value of the diamine acids occurring in proteins for the 

 maintenance of adult mice, E. M. K. Geiling (Jour. Biol. Chem., 31 (1917), 

 No. 1, pp. 113-199). — The experiments reported were all conducted with adiilt 

 mice for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the diamino acids, arginin, 

 histidin, and lysin, which are precipitated with phosphotungstic acid in acid 

 solution, are necessary for the maintenance of adult mice. The following 

 findings are among those summarized : 



" If the diamino acids are removed from hydrolyzed casein with phospho- 

 tungstic acid in acid solution, the residual amino acids are inadequate for the 

 maintenance of adult mice. . . . Cystin appears to be necessary for the 

 maintenance of adult mice. Arginin and histidin seem to be interchangeable 

 in nutrition. Full-grown mice are able to hold their weight when either of 

 them, together with systin, is present in the ration. In the absence of both, 

 loss of weight results. . . . Lysin does not appear to be necessary for the 

 maintenance of adult mice." 



A bibliography is appended. 



Influence of protein intake on creatin excretion in children, W. Denis, J. G. 

 Kramer, and Anna S. Minot {Jour. Biol. Chem., SO (1917), No. 2, pp. 189- 

 196). — "Experimental results are presented on four children and one infant in 

 which it is shown that the amount of creatin found in the urine of children is 

 directly dependent on the intake of protein, being high when large quantities 

 of protein (creatin-free) are ingested, decreasing and in some cases disappear- 

 ing entirely when the child is fed a diet of an extremely low protein content. 

 Creatinuria in normal children is therefore due to the relatively high protein 

 intake which is the rule with practically all children ; that it may also be due 

 to the low saturation point of immature muscle is suggested by the small creatin 

 content of the muscles of children and by the relatively low level of protein 

 consumption at which appreciable quantities of creatin are excreted." 



Bence-Jones proteinuria. — Some observations on its occurrence, with par- 

 ticular reference to nephritis and hypertension, S. R. Miller and W. A. Baet- 

 JEB (Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc, 70 (1918), No. 3, pp. 137-139) .—This article re- 

 views the investigations and theories of several workers in regard to the gen- 

 eral subject of Bence-Jones proteinuria and cites several new cases. 



" Bence-Jones protein apparently may occur in seemingly healthy young per- 

 sons, in whom it may be discovered accidentally. In the cases reported, there 

 were, in addition, hypertension and cylindruria, despite functional renal tests 

 which were in all respects normal. These cases may be strong additional proof 

 of the theory that Bence-Jones proteinuria is an inborn error or anomaly of 

 metabolism. . . . 



" It seems obvious that the association of Bence-Jones proteinuria, hyperten- 

 sion, and nephritis is probably not uncommon, and the chances are that atten- 

 tion called to this matter will result in the finding of more cases." 



Studies in calcium and magnesium metabolism. — I— III, M. H. Givens and 

 L. B. Mendel (Jour. Biol. Chem., 31 (1917), No. 2, pp. 421-433, 435-439, 44I- 

 444)- — Three studies are reported, 



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