FOODS NUTRITION. 173 



make only about 1 per cent of the whole energy nietabolizeil, and not over 6 per 

 cent of the energy of the alcohol. 



"The efficiency of alcohol in the protection of body fat from consumption was very 

 evident. The losses of fat were no larger and the gains no smaller with the alcohol 

 diet than with the corresponding diet without alcohol. In this respect there was no 

 indication of any considerable difference between the alcohol and the nearly isody- 

 namic amounts of fats and carbohydrates which it replaced. This was the case in 

 all the experiments. 



"The efficiency' of the alcohol in protecting body protein was evident, 1)ut it was 

 not fully e(iual in this respect to the isodynamic amounts of the ordinary nutrients. 

 The results, however, were not the same with the different subjects. . . . On the 

 whole these experiments accord with the belief that with some persons, especially 

 with those who are not accustomed to the use of alcohol, it may fail to protect pro- 

 tein; but this action is temporary, and the more permanent influence is to protect 

 protein. 



"That a part of the potential energy of the alcohol was transformed into the 

 kinetic energy of muscular work these experiments do not prove, though they make 

 it highly probable. They imply that, so far as the utilization of the total energy of 

 the diet was concerned, there was a slight advantage in economy in favor of the 

 ordinary as compared with the alcohol diet, especially when the subjects were at 

 hard muscular work, but the difference was inside the limits of experimental error 

 and too small to be of practical consequence. On the average it was less than I per 

 cent of the total energy, and hardly reached 5 per cent of the energy of the alcohol. 

 From this it follows that the energy of the alcohol was utilized nearly if not quite 

 as well as that of the fats, sugar, and starch which it replaced. 



" We repeat that there is a very essential difference between the transformation of 

 the potential energy of alcohol into the kinetic energy of heat, or of either internal 

 or external muscular work, and the usefulness or harmfulness of alcohol as a part of 

 ordinary diet. Regarding this latter (]uestion the experiments bring no more evidence 

 than they do regarding the influence of alcohol upon the nervous system or its gen- 

 eral effect upon health and welfare." 



Some new nutrient preparations, S. Weissbein (Deut. Med. Wchnsclir., 28 {1902), 

 No. '2; ahii. in British Med. Jour., 1902, No. 214-5, Epit., p. 23). — Analytical methods 

 suited to the examination of plasmon and similar preparations are described and 

 results obtained are reported. 



Some new foods prepared from plant protein, ]M. Wintgen {Ztschr. Untersuch. 

 Nahr. n. Gemi.^smtl., 5 {1902), No. 7, pp. 289-301). — The composition and digestibility 

 of roborat, aleuronat, and energin, all of which are foods prepared from the protein 

 of cereals, was studied and a bacteriological examination of the products made. 



Milk flour in Sweden, V. E. Nelson ( U. S. Consular Bj^ts., 69 {1902), No. 260, 

 pp. 118, 119). — According to the author, flours are prepared in Sweden from whole 

 and from skim milk. These materials, it is said, are readily soluble in water and 

 may be used in a variety of ways as food. 



Milk flour in Sweden, R. S. S. Bergh ( V. S. Consular lipts., 68 {1902), No. 257, 

 p. -2,38) . — A l)rief note on powder or flour made from skim milk. 



Edible fung-i, A. Zega {Chcm. 7lrj., 26 {1902), p. 10; aU. in Chem. CentbL, 1902, 

 I, No. 6, ]). 362). — The composition of Agaricus esculentus, A. arvcnsis, Lactarius pipe- 

 ratus, and <h}tri)}ii-'^ coinatns, is reported. 



On the composition of the nuts of Gingko biloba, U. Suzuki {Bui. Col. Agr. 

 Imp. IMv. Tokyo, 4 {1902), j)p. 357, 358). — The author reports an analysis of the 

 nuts of (HngJco biloha which are used in the Orient as food. 



On the occurrence of cane sugar in the seeds of Gingko biloba and Camel- 

 lia theifera, U. Suzuki {Bui. Col. Agr. Imp. Iriir. Tokyo, 4 {1902), pp. 349, 350).— 

 The occurrence of cane sugar in these seeds is noted. 



8994— No. 2—02 6 



