1919] FOODS — HUMAN NUTRITION. 363 



to fish infected from a carrier of organisms, evidently of the Gaertner group but 

 of slightly abnormal characteristics. 



Vitamins and nutrition, II. Sn.i ETOOCS iSri. Mo., 7 (1018), Xo. 2, pp. 179- 

 1SS, figs. 9).— This article discusses the vitamins, shows when physiological 

 disturbances are to be expected if the (lift is deficient in them, and what, with 

 our present mode of living, is the probability of a deficiency. 



The author concludes that it is sufficient to say that both vitamins are In- 

 dispensible in the diet, hut that for normal nutrition, if the individual has the 

 opportunity to select his foods as he desires, lack of vitamins should give no 

 greater cause for concern than lack of suitable proteins or salts. 



Vitamins and symbiotes, II. Bierry and P. Portier (Oompt. Rend. Acad. 

 Sci. [Paris], 166 (1918), Xo. 23, pp. 963-966; abs. in Chem. Abs., 12 (1918), No. 

 19, p. 2001). — The author points out the similarity between vitamins and 

 symbiotes in occurrence and temperature of destruction, and reports experi- 

 ments made upon rats and pigeons in which deficiency symptoms were cured 

 by subcutaneous or Intraperitoneal inoculation of cultures of living Bymblotes. 



The known and the unknown with regard to the etiology and prevention 

 of beri-beri, E. B. Vedder (Proc. 2. Pan Amcr. Sci. Cong., 1915-16, vol. 10, pp. 

 22-29). — A discussion involving the relation of diet to beri-beri. 



[Diet in pellagra], J. Goldberuer (Proc. 2. Pan Amcr. Sci. Cong., 1915-16, 

 vol^ 10, pp. 8-22). — A resume of some of the studies of the United States Public 

 Health Service relating to the causation and to a method of preventing pellagra. 



Chemical analyses of the stomach contents from 100 pellagrins, M. H. 

 Givens (Amer. Jour. Med. Sci., 155 (1918), Xo. 2, pp. 221-232). — This is a con- 

 tinuation of the studies of Hunter, Givens, and Lewis previously noted (E. S. EL, 

 35, p. G66). Data from 100 more cases are presented and summarized as 

 follows : 



"No definite relation can be found between the absence of pepsin and free 

 hydrochloric acid, and sex, age, duration of pellagra, and clinical symptoms. 

 The gastric secretion of children is disturbed along the same general line as 

 that of adults. Free hydrochloric acid and pepsin do not seem to be absent 

 as often in children as in adults. Although the tendency is for acid and pepsin 

 to disappear hand in hand, such is not always the case. It is believed that 

 pepsin and free acid are present more often than has been expected." 



Pathogenesis of infantile scurvy: An hypothesis, H. J. Gerstenbercer 

 [Amer. Jour. Med. Sri.. 155 (1918), Xo. 2, pp. 253-268; abs. in Physiol Abs., 3 

 (1918). Xo. 1,-5, pp. 259, 260).— The author outlines the etiology and clinical 

 picture of scurvy and proposes the following theory of its pa i lu 'genesis: 



(1) All of the known symptoms of scurvy may be explainer" on the common 

 basis of a primary or secondary interference with one or more of the normal 

 functions of calcium alone or in conjunction with its physiological anion. (2) 

 In infant scurvy this defunctioning of calcium is caused by a substance pro- 

 duced through a break in the metabolism of carbohydrates, whatever their 

 original source may be. (3) The break in carbohydrate metabolism occurs, as 

 already suggested by Funk (E. S. R., 31, p. 163) and others, as a result of the 

 absence, inactivity, relative Insufficiency, or Inadequacy of some physiochemical 

 substance or vitamin essential to the establishment and performance of normal 

 carbohydrate metabolism. (4) The defunctioning substance is possibly oxalic 

 acid or some other agent having a strong affinity for calcium, and after com- 

 bining with calcium, it is soluble with greal difficulty. 



This hypothesis is discussed in detail, with many references to the literature 

 on the subject of scurvy. 



Infantile scurvy. A. F. Hess (Proc. 2. Pan Amcr. Sri. Conn., 1915-16. vol. 

 10, pp. ^S-51). — The author cites investigations which led to the conclusion 



