FOODS ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 863 



lives in the adjacent tissue producing a swelling so that affected twigs have a knot- 

 ted appearand-. The moth is somewhat rare and was first noted by Amerling at 

 Prag. 



A new grapevine disinfectant, B. H. Ridgely (U. S. Consular Bpts., 1898, No. 

 209, pp. 267-269). — A brief note is given of a new compound called phylloxerol, nsed 

 in Switzerland with good effect against the phylloxera. It has the double effect of 

 destroying the insects and of acting as a fertilizer. It may be applied to other 

 plants as well as to the vine. In the case of the vine a small hole is scooped out 

 around the vine and in it 8.3 to 12.."> ozs. of the phylloxerol placed and the earth 

 filled in agaiu. This operation is repeated in the spring. According to the manu- 

 facturer 1 about 55 lbs. of the substance is sufficient for 1 acre of vines for 2 or 3 

 years. 



Destruction of locusts, L. Bergholz ( U. S. Consular Rpts., 1S9S, Xo. 209, pp. 269, 

 270). — The destruction of locusts by arsenic poisoning in Natal is noted. The poison 

 consists of arscnite of soda made by dissolving 1 lb. caustic soda in 4 gal. of boiling 

 water and adding 1 lb. of arsenic. To this 8 gal. of hot or cold water, and 20 lbs. 

 of brown sugar arc added; or by mixing it with 10 gal. of treacle. Bunches of corn, 

 grass, etc., dipped in the mixture arc placed along the roads where the locusts can 

 get them. 



FOODS— ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



Report of preliminary investigations on the metabolism of 

 nitrogen and. carbon in the human organism, W. O. At water, 

 C. J). Woods, and F. G. Benedict ( U. 8. Dept. Ayr., Office of Experi- 

 ment Stations Bui. 44, pp. 64, Jigs. J). — These investigations were made 

 at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, by the Connecticut 

 Storrs Station in cooperation with this Department. They have been 

 briefly reported in previous publications.- The object was to determine 

 the income and outgo of matter and energy. The balance of matter is 

 expressed in terms of nitrogen and carbon. The determination of the 

 balance of hydrogen was also attempted, but the results obtained and 

 the measurements of the heat given off by the body are not reported. 

 Proximate and elementary analyses were made of the food, urine, and 

 feces, and their fuel value was determined with a bomb calorimeter. 

 The respiratory products were measured and analyzed, the amount of 

 carbon dioxid and water being determined. In connection with the 

 experiments, the apparatus used was modified and improved and 

 experimental methods were elaborated. For the measurement of the 

 respiratory products and energy of the body a respiration calorimeter 

 of special construction was devised. 



The inside dimensions of the respiration chamber are 2.15 by 1.22 

 by 1.92 meters, and the volume approximately 4.S cubic meters. The 

 chamber consists of 3 concentric boxes, the inner one of metal and 

 the two outer ones of wood. The inner box, or chamber, is double 

 walled, the inner wall being of sheet copper, the outer of sheet zinc. 

 The 2 walls are 8 cm. apart. An opening in the front end of the metal 



'Eugene Courvoisier (Versoix, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland 1 ). 

 -Science, 5 (1897), No. 117. pp. 493-490 (E. S.R., 8, p. 821); Connecticut Storrs 

 Sta. Rpt. 1896, p. 85. 



