AMIMAL PRODUCTION. 



597 



The physiological action of formaldehyde, W. Keen {Amer. Jour. Physiol., 

 6 [190S), No. 5, pp. 325-IW9) . — From experiments which are reported, the eonchision 

 .av'as drawn that trj'psin " like a starch or fat splitting enzym, is not directly affected 

 by formaldehyde. . . ." Fibrin, on the other hand, is rendered more or less indiges- 

 tible, depending on the strength of the formaldehyde and the time of exposure. 

 U'e may conclude from this that formaldehyde does not act by forming active oxy- 

 gen, nor by destroying the zymase, but brings about the death of the cell indirectly 

 l)y rendering its proteid food supply useless and by preventing the digestion of pro- 

 teids always going on within the protoplasm of the cell, a reaction intimately con- 

 nected with the life of the organism." 



Concerning' the modifications which -warm and moist surroundings pro- 

 duce in the respiratory quotient, V. Graxdis and C. ^Mainixi (Arch. Ital. liioL, 

 37 {190£), Xo. 2, pp. 281-297, fig. 1). — The results of experiments with small ani- 

 mals and pigeons are reported. 



Market classes and grades of cattle, with suggestions for interpreting 

 market quotations, H. W. Mumford [Illhiols Sta. Bui. 78, pp. 367-433, figs. 48). — 

 On tlie basis of an extended study of the subject in the Chicago Union Stock Yards 

 tile author discusses the jirincipal classes of cattle and grades in which the classes are 

 subdivided commercially, the purpose of the bulletin lieingto familiarize feeders and 

 breeders of beef cattle with the market conditions. The imjiortanceof such a classi- 

 tication is shown 1)}- the fact that hitherto there has been no uniformity in the use of 

 terms by those who raise and sell cattle or report market transactions in them. 

 Recognizing the fact that in the nature of the case any classification must be more or 

 less arbitrary, the following is submitted, which in the author's opinion represents 

 the distinction actually made: 



Market classes and grades of cattle. 



Beef cattle: 



Prime steers. 



Choice steers. 



Good steers. 



Medium steers. 



Common rough steers. 

 PiUtcher stock: 



Prime heifers. 



Choice heifers. 



Good heifers. 



Metlium heifers. 



Prime cows. 



Choice cows. 



Good cows. 



Medium cows. 



Common rough steers. 



Choice bulls. 



Good bulls. 



Medium bulls. 

 Cutters and canners : 



Gootl cutters. 



Medium cutters. 



Common cutters and good canners. 



Medium canners. 



Inferior canners. 



Bologna bulls. 



Stockers and feeders: 



Fancy selected feeders. 



Choice feeders. 



Good feeders. 



Medium feeders. 



Common feeders. 



Inferior feeders. 



Feeder bulls. 



Fancy selected yearling stockers. 



Choice yearling stockers. 



Good yearling stockers. 



Medium yearling stockers. 



Common yearling stockers. 



Inferior yearling stockers. 



Good stock heifers. 



Medium stock heifers. 



Common stock heifers. 

 Veal calves: 



Choice. 



Good. 



Medium. 



Common. 



