582 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



mi liquor became more effective, and it appears thai heating produced some Borl 

 of decomposition, probably of sugar, which resulted in the production <>i' bodies \\ ii h 

 germicidal properties. The small amount of acid present was without effect. 



The influence of sterilizing food, A. Charrin (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Parish 

 L',9 ( 1904), No. .', pp. 160-162). — Unfavorable results attended the feeding of steril- 

 ized food under aseptic conditions in experiments with guinea pigs. The author 

 concludes that in such cases a certain amount of the food does not exercise its full 

 nutritive value, or at least escapes digestive changes. 



The evils of boron preservatives ( British Food .lour., 6 (1904), No. 7". ji/>. 203, 

 204). — A brief note of experiments by C. Harrington in which cats given on an 

 average 0.5 gm. of borax for L33 days either became ill, died, or when killed at 

 the close of the experiment were found, with one exception, to be suffering from 

 nephritis. 



The nutritive value of meat extract, E. Burgi (Arch. Hyg., 51 {1904), No. J, 

 pp. 1-18). — The experiments reported have to do with the controversial question 

 whether or not meat extract increases metabolism. The conclusion is drawn that 

 the material taken in this form is rapidly excreted and that the extract bodies are 

 not foods. The rate of excretion was noted, and it was observed that there was some 

 variation in the rapidity with which the nitrogen and carbon in the meat extract 

 consumed were eliminated. 



The behavior of meat extractives in the animal body, M. Rubner {Arch. 

 Hyg., 51 {1904), No. l, />/>. 19-61). — An exhaustive discussion of the subject, some 

 of the author's investigations being reported. The author concludes that the meat 

 extractives after they have served their purpose for stimulating digestion are excreted 

 as soon as may be from the body. 



Concerning the solubility of milk and casein in pepsin-hydrochloric acid, 

 A. Zaitschek and V. vox Szontagh {Arch. Physiol. [Pfluger], 104 (1904), No. 9-1. \ 

 pp. 550-503). — The experiments showed that human milk and that of asses and mares 

 was entirely soluble in pepsin-hydrochloric acid under the experimental conditions, 

 and only 8 to 15 per cent of the casein of cows', buffaloes', and goats' milk. Other 

 differences in the several sorts of milk are spoken of. 



The metabolism of matter and energy in an artificially nourished infant, 

 F. Tangl {Arch. Physiol. [Pfluger], 104 (1904), No. 9-12, pp. 153-513).— In the 

 experiments reported an infant was fed modified milk. The digestibility of the food 

 and the metabolism of nitrogen and of the ash constituents were studied, and the 

 income of energy in the food was compared with the outgo in the urine and feces. 

 The modified milk was as well utilized by the child, who was healthy though not 

 very strong, as is cows' milk by strong children. 



Metabolism in old age, S. Fenger {Skand. Arch. Physiol., 16 {1904), No. 3-4, pp. 

 222-248).- — The author studied the diet and metabolism of nitrogen of an individual 

 at intervals during a period of about 15 years, the subject being a woman »>1 years old 

 at the beginning of the experimental period. 



From choice the diet was very simple, consisting of such foods as egg, oatmeal, 

 soup, skim milk, sugar, fruit, and a little wine. The protein consumed per kilogram 

 of body weight was not far from 2 gm., the energy value being about 26.4 calories. 

 Notwithstanding these low values, the subject remained in good health. A number of 

 experiments on the effect of varying amounts of protein and energy were carried on. 



The author concluded that age (75 years) did not hinder the organism from very 

 promptly making g< >od a loss of nitrogen when a more abundant diet followed a period 

 characterized by a limited supply, lie points out that for 15 years no salt was eaten 

 except that naturally present in the food, and that the amount taken daily was only 

 about 1.5 gm., of which about half was excreted in the feces and the remainder in 

 the urine. This he believes shows that the minimum requirement for this constituent 

 is lower than has been supposed, at least in old age. 



