902 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



A study of the pulse rate in man as modified by muscular work, W. P. 

 Bowen {Contributions to Medical Research. Ann Arbor, Mich.: George Wahr, 1903, 

 pp. ',*;_>- ;.'/.;, figs. 9). — A graphic method of recording pulse rate is described and 

 experiments are reported which have to do with the effects of muscular work as 

 shown by changes in pulse rate. Some of the conclusions follow: 



".Muscular work is accompanied by a marked acceleration of the pulse, which 

 begins with the next heart cycle after the work begins, and in typical cases shows 

 three well marked stages: A primary rise, a plateau, and a secondary rise. Similar 

 stages of decrease in rate occur after the work stops. . . . The rapidity of the 

 pulse during work depends not only upon the amount of work done but much more 

 upon the manner in which it is done. Speed and resistance are factors requiring 

 separate consideration, and of the two speed has much the greater influence. . . . 



"The changes in pulse rate during work ami at its end are so sudden and so rapid 

 that the only reliable information concerning them must be acquired while the work 

 is in progress; for this purpose a continuous graphic record is far superior to any 

 other method that has been employed." 



Some aspects of the newer physiology of the gastrointestinal canal, L. B. 

 Mexdel (Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc, 43 (1904), No. .'I. pp. 1539-1543). — Recent inves- 

 tigations are summarized and discussed which have to do with the innervation and 

 movements of the alimentary canal, the secretory functions of the glands, and the 

 chemical processes in the alimentary canal. The author's summary regarding the 

 amount of undigested food in feces follows: 



" It has been customary to regard the feces as composed primarily of indigestible 

 and undigested food residues. But increasing evidence is pointing to the fact that 

 this is frequently, if not commonly, correct .to a small extent only. It is true that 

 coarser foods and substances rich in cellulose pass through the alimentary canal in 

 considerable proportion without utilization. On an ordinary mixed diet, however, 

 the foodstuffs are absorbed remarkably well, and the feces owe their origin in large 

 measure to the waste and secretions of the alimentary tract itself. A diet may thus 

 be feces-forming in proportion to the digestive work which it entails, as well as 

 because of its chemical and physical character, and feces thus resulting must be con- 

 sidered as real metabolic products in distinction from the food residues." 



Report on alimentary and urea nitrogen in relation to a maintenance 

 ration, E. Maurel ( Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol. [Paris'], 56 (1904), No. 14, p/>. 669-073). — 

 The data summarized regarding the amounts of nitrogen consumed and excreted led 

 the author to conclude that, generally speaking, the nitrogen excreted in the urine is a 

 function of the nitrogen absorbed and within certain limits of the nitrogen ingested. 



Under ordinary conditions all the nitrogen of a maintenance ration, with the 

 exception of 0.1 gm. per kilogram normal body weight, is recovered in the urine as 

 urea. The author regards 1.5 gm. nitrogen per kilogram of body weight as the nor- 

 mal amount required for maintenance by an adult in the intermediate seasons in 

 temperate regions. 



Approximate estimation of the minimum quantities of lime and magnesia 

 excreted in the urine and the minimum amounts of these substances neces- 

 sary for a maintenance ration, E. Mai'i ei. (Compt. Raid. Soc Biol. [Paris], 56 

 (1904), No. 15, pp. 706-709). — From his investigations the author drew the conclu- 

 sion that 0.01 gm. calcium oxid and 0.005 gm. magnesium oxid per kilogram of 

 weight are required for maintenance, amounts which would be contained in the ordi- 

 nary foods making up a maintenance ration. The quantities of lime and magnesia 

 required by infants and the amounts furnished by mothers' milk and cows' milk are 

 also spoken of, as well as the proportion of these mineral constituents of the diet 

 excreted in the urine. 



The minimum amount of phosphoric acid excreted per day and the amount 

 needed for a maintenance ration, E. Maurel (Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol. [Paris], 56 

 (1904), No. 16, pp. 751-754). — Continuing his studies of the constituents of a mainte- 



