70 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



suit of some one or more, or probably a combination of two or more, of the fol- 

 lowing factors : A physiologically defective protein supply, a low or inadequate 

 supply of fat-soluble vitamin, a low or inadequate supply of water-soluble 

 vitamin, and a defective mineral supply. This is in accord with the conclusiona 

 of McCollum and others noted above. 



" The somewhat lower plane of supply, both of energy and of protein, of the 

 pellagrous households, though apparently not an essential factor, may, never- 

 theless, be contributory by favoring the occurrence of a deficiency in intake 

 of some one or more of the essential dietary factors, particularly with diets 

 having only a narrow margin of safety. 



"The pellagra-producing dietary fault may be corrected and the disease 

 prevented by including in the diet an adequate supply of the animal protein 

 foods particularly milk, Including butter and lean meat." 



The role of antiscorbutics in our dietary. A. F. Hess (Jour. Amer. Med. 

 Assoc, 11 (Wis), Sn. 12. pp. 941-943, fig. l: aft*, in Chem. M>s.. 11 {1918), No. 

 2.3. p. 2610). — This is a general discussion of the subject based on Investigations 

 previously noted (E. S. R.. 39. p. 771). 



The author suggests the practicability of using oranpe peel in place of orange 

 juice :is an antiscorbutic. An infusion mad'' by adding to washed and grated 

 orange peel twice its volume of boiling water, allowing to stand over night and 

 then straining, has been found to be entirely satisfactory in antiscorbutic 

 properties. 



The " vitamin " hypothesis and the diseases referable to faulty diet. R. V. 

 McColm; m {Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc., 11 {1918), No. 12. pp. 987-941; oft*. In 

 Chcm. Abs.. 12 (IMS). \o. 25, p. 2610). — Investigations leading to the present 

 conception of an adequate diet are reviewed, and the deficiency diseases— 

 scurvy and pellagra — are discussed In the lipht of recent studies conducted 

 by the author and other investigators. 



The inorganic elements in nutrition, T. B. OSBOBRK, L. B. Menpkl. kt ai.. 

 {Jour. Biol Chcm., 34 (1918), No. 1, pp. 181-189, pis. .?).— The role in nutrition 

 of the inorganic elements. Individually and collectively, has been studied by the 

 use of salt mixtures in which one or more of the elements has been omitted 

 and replaced by increments of the remaining ones so as to maintain as nearly as 

 possible the balance of acids and bases. These were used In the customary 

 feeding experiments with rats to replace the complete mixtures of Inorganic 

 salts, which have been shown to be adequate. 



It was found that good growth took place when magnesium, sodium, and 

 calcium were all present in traces only. With less than 0.04 per cent of either 

 chlorin or sodium, slightly more than 0.01 per cent magnesium, and only 0.03 

 per cent of potassium, respectively, the usual growth was attained. When 

 both sodium and potassium were simultaneously decreased, growth ceased. The 

 subsequent addition of sodium alone caused only a slight pain, but later sub- 

 stitution of potassium for sodium caused rapid recovery. Cessation or re- 

 striction of growth followed rapidly as a result of feeding diets low in calcium 

 or phosphorus. This was promptly remedied by the introduction of either in 

 organic form. 



The authors discuss the significance of the results obtained, and conclude 

 that in the long run much smaller quantities of those Inorganic elements which 

 can be husbanded will be required for well-being than of those which are needed 

 for the maintenance of neutrality and are continuously eliminated. This is 

 wholly apart from any quantity necessary for the construction of special tissi - 

 like bone or for the production of milk. Attention is called to the fact that any 

 shortage of an essential Inorganic element can be suitably remedied under or- 

 dinary conditions by the use of its salts. 



