Ittft] FOODS — HUMAN Xl'TRITION. 4C5 



Contrary to n bservatlons of Pita, previously noted (E. 8. R., •■'•!'. p. 865), 



the sugars tested afforded no protection againsl scurvy. The authors consider 

 that the data tend further to strengthen their belief thai any amelioration ob- 

 served by McCollum and Pitz (E. S. R., 38, p. 568) was due to the enhanced 

 consumption of the raw milk and not to the antiscorbutic potencj of the sub- 

 stances tested. 



The vitamins, their chemical nature, their importance in metabolism, and 

 their function in the animal organism, < !. FUNK {Amer. Med., n. sir., 11 

 {1916), No. 11, }>;>. 751—756). — This article summarizes some of the latest de- 

 velopments Of research on vitamins, and outlines the OUtlOOb and plans in tins 

 direction Cor the future. 



Some general aspects of the "vitamin" problem, R. EL Williams (Amer. 

 Med., a. ser., 11 (1016). No. 11, pp. 756-76%, figs. 8).- The author presents clini- 

 cal pathological, and chemical evidence against specificity, and discusses the 

 possible nature of the active agents of dietary diseases. 



The relation of vitamins to animal growth, A. B. Macallcm (Amer. M><!.. 

 n. 8t ■/■.. // (1916), No. 11, pp. 7S2-785).— The author believes thai the vitamins 

 do not in themselves directly stimulate the growth of the animal cell, hut that 

 when present in a diet otherwise adequate they play their part in maintaining 

 metabolic equilibrium. 



Observations on the action of tartrates, citrates, and oxalates. — A study in 

 tolerance, cumulation, and the effect of diet, \V. Sai.ant and A. M. Swanson 

 {■hmr. Pharmacol. <m<l Expt. Ther., 11 (1018), No. 2, pp. 1S3-1J,5).—A study of 

 the influence of diet on the toxicity of sodium tartrate, sodium citrate, and 

 sodium oxalate. I >iets of cabbage, carrots, hay. and oats were used with rab- 

 bits and other laboratory animals. The results are summarized as follows: 



"Tolerance to tartrate may he acquired by rabbits on different diets, the 

 doses survived being aboul two to three times the surely fatal dose. No 

 increased resistance to tartrate was observed in cats that received gradually 

 increasing doses. 



"Cumulation was observed in experiments with citrate and oxalate. The 

 resistance to oxalate and citrate in rabbits may he slightly increased by diet. 



"The different behavior of tartrate, citrates, and oxalate as regards toler- 

 ance and cumulation is held to he unfavorable to the theory which assumes 

 that the physiological effects of their acids ami soluble salts are due to calcium 

 precipitation or to the transformation of ionic calcium into nonionized calcium 

 in the cell." 



The importance of diet as a factor in the production of pathologic changes, 

 W. Sala.nt (Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc., 60 (1011), Xo. S. pp. 603-605).— This is a 

 review of investigations conducted by the author at the Bureau of Chemistry 

 of the 0. S. Department of Agriculture and by others in regard to the protective 

 action of diet against drugs and poisons of various kinds. 



Nutrition Laboratory, F. (J. Benedict (Carnegie Inst. Washington Year Book. 

 16 (1017). pp. 237-248). — In this report are given detailed data regarding addi- 

 tions to equipment, cooperating and visiting investigators, investigations in 

 progress, and publications issued during the year by the Nutrition Research 

 Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution. 



A portable respiration apparatus for clinical use, F. G. Benedict (Boston 

 Med. (mil Sun/. Jour., 17S (1018), No. 20, pp. 667-678, figs. 3).— This apparatus 

 dispenses with gas analysis and for the most part with all weighings. Ac- 

 cording to the author, it has the advantages of portability, simplicity, and 

 rapidity of operation, with a sufficient degree of accuracy to meet the needs of 

 practically all clinical work. 



