492 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Diet tables of Italian hospitals, A. Fbass'j (Riv. Tg. e Sun. Pubb., Roma, 15 

 (1904); abs. in Hyg. Rundschau, 14 (1904), No. SO, pp. 999 WW).— Diet tables of 55 

 hospitals are given and the nutritive value of the rations for different classes of 

 patients calculated. The data presented are discussed in relation to the general 

 question of diet. 



The Japanese soldier's outfit, with notes on the rations (British Meel. Tour., 

 19(>4, Xo. 2289, }>p. 1327, 1828, figs. 10). — A brief description of the equipment of the 

 Japanese soldiers. Attention is especially called to the ready boiled rice which is 

 supplied, and the biscuits made of wheat and rice flour with a few grains of millet 

 seed to prevent them from becoming too hard. Dried vegetables of various kinds, 

 including sliced potatoes, carrots, beans, sliced gourd, etc., are issued, as well as tea 

 and salt in solid (akesor cubes, and various meats and fish in tin. To diminish 

 weight and simplify transportation problems the fodder for the horses is specially 

 prepared by drying. 



Cost of living and retail prices in the United States, (i. YV. W. Hanger 

 (('. 8. Dipt. Com. and Labor, Bureau of Labor Bui. 54, pp. 1129-1164, charts ,/l). — 

 A number of the charts showing the cost of living and retail prices in the United 

 States, prepared for the exhibit of the Bureau of Labor at the Louisiana Purchase 

 Exposition, are reproduced, and the material presented is described. The records 

 are based on data secured in 25,440 families residing in the principal industrial locali- 

 ties in 33 States. (See also E. S. R., 15, p. 493). 



The regulation of dietaries in hospitals and other public institutions, W. 

 Albrand (Die Kostordnung an lied- and Pflege-Anstalten. Leipzig: II. Hartnung cV- 

 Son, 1903, pp. 79; rer. in British Med. Jour., 1904, No. 2284, p. 925). — Dietetics of 

 institutions are discussed and dietaries proposed, particularly for patients, nurse;-, 

 and officers of hospitals for the insane. 



The influence of sodium chlorid on stomach digestion, Bonnigek (Munchm. 

 Med. Wchnschr., 1904, No. -2; abs. in Zentbl. Physiol, 18 (1904), No. 8, p. 262).— In 

 experiments with a dog with a Pawlow fistula, sodium chlorid solution introduced 

 into the main stomach diminished the flow of gastric juice to about 25 percent of 

 the quantity found in a control animal given no salt. The effect was attributed to 

 reflex nervous action. 



Human pancreatic juice, Hamburger and Hekma (Jour. Physiol, et Path. Gin., 

 1004, Jan., p. 40; abs. in Bee. Sue. Sci. Hyg. Aliment., 1 (1904), No. 1, p.p.?).— Accord- 

 ing to the authors, human intestinal juice contains enterokinase, amylase, sucrase, 

 and erepsin. It is without action on lactose and cellulose, but attacks casein directly. 



The fat-cleaving ferment of the intestinal juice, W. Boldireff (Z&nlbl. 

 Physiol., 18 (1904), No. 15, pp. 460, 461). — The fat-cleaving properties of the intes- 

 tinal juice were not hindered by antiseptics, like calomel or thymol, while filtering 

 the juice diminished though it did not destroy these properties. The ferment action 

 of the intestinal juice, the author concludes, is due to a specific ferment and is not 

 rendered active by the gall. 



The effect of alcohol, sugar, and tea upon the ability of muscles to produce 

 work, A. F. Hellsten (Skdnd. Arch. Physiol., 16 (1904), No. 3-4, pp. 139-221, 

 dgm. 1). — Ergographic experiments made with a man showed that, almost imme- 

 diately after taking, alcohol increased the muscular power, but after 10 to 40 minutes 

 the power began to diminish and this effect lasted 2 hours. The reaction followed 

 with large doses of alcohol somewhat more quickly than with small doses. 



Sugar increased the muscular power, the effect being noticed about 40 minutes 

 after the solution was taken. The favorable effect of sugar was especially noticeable 

 when the amount of work per unit of time was considered. The effect of tea on 

 muscular work was but slight and lasted for- only a short time. The effect was 

 noticeable almost as soon as the tea infusion was taken. 



