1910) FOODS HUMAN NUTKITION. 269 



The utilization of horse serum in human nutrition, L. T.indet (Compt. 

 Rend. Acad. Agr. Frame, k {1918), No. 29, pp. 807-810).— The use of serum 

 albumin of the horse as an Inexpensive and satisfactory substitute for the wliite 

 of eggs in cooking is suggested. 



The energy content of extra foods, Cornelia G. and F. G. Benedict (Boston 

 klcd. and Surg. Jour., 119 (1918), No. 5, pp. 153-162; abs. in Chem. Aba., 12 

 (1918), No. 22, p. 2387). — The energy values of several extra foods which may 

 be taken at other times than at the three regular meals are reported. These 

 include well-known brands of plain, milk, and nut chocolate, crackers and 

 wafers, plain and ice cream sodas, sundaas, ice cream cones, and temperance 

 or soft drinks. 



The data show that the caloric content of an ordinary serving or portion of 

 these so-called extra foods and beverages is of real significance, and should be 

 taken into account in considering the total energy intake in the course of the 

 day. It Is stated that these extra foods may In many cases form at least 10 

 per cent of the total daily intake. 



General index numbers of food prices on a nutritive value base, It. Pearl 

 (Washington: U. S. Food Admin., 1918, pp. IS, fig. 1). — Two general price in- 

 dexes have been devised, one indicating the trend of prices received by the 

 producer of the basic food staples for his products and the other indicating the 

 trend of wholesale prices. The general plan followed in calculating these 

 Indexes is to weight the quoted prices of each commodity by a factor propor- 

 tional to the nutritive value of the normal production or crop of that com- 

 modity, the total energy content in calories being taken as the measure of 

 nutritive value. Detailed data are given as to the number of commodities, com- 

 putation of prices, and weighting factors. 



Commercial stocks of grain, flour, and miscellaneous food products in the 

 United States on November 1, 1918 (U. S. Dept. Ayr., Food Surreys, 2 (1918), 

 No. 14, pp. 8). — Data as to stocks on this date are reported. 



Physiological effects of a prolonged reduction in diet on 25 men, F. G. 

 Benedict (Proe. Amer. I'hil. Soc, .57 (1918), No. 5, pp. J f 79-J f 90; abs. in Chem. 

 Abs., 12 (1918), No. 28, pp. 2600, 2601).— The essential points of this investiga- 

 tion nave been previously noted (E. S. R., 39, p. 507). 



Some aspects of infant feeding, J. C. Drummond (Lancet [London], 1918. 

 IF, No. 15, pp. 482-484). — This is a discussion of t he influence of the accessory 

 factors of the diet on nutrition based upon experimental research upon the 

 nutrition of young growing animals. The accessory factors are classified as 

 fat-soluble A. water-soluble B or antlberi-berl factor, and water-soluble C or 

 antiscorbutic factor. Tables are given which indicate the chief properties of 

 the three substances and their relative distribution in natural foodstuffs. 



The author points out that much of the low resistance to disease shown by 

 the breast-fed young of the poorer classes or by those fed on various substi- 

 tutes for human milk is indirect I,\ due to their having received during a most 

 critical period of their development an Inadequate supply of one or more of the 

 Indispensable accessory factors. 



Gastric response to foods. — The determination and significance of intra- 

 gastric conductance, O. Bkrc.eim {Amer. Jour. Physiol., )5 (1917), No. 1, pp. 

 1-11, figs. IS). — A retention stomach tube in the form of an electrolytic cell is 

 described, which is said to make possible the determination of Intragastric 

 conductances at any desired interval of time without disturbance or removal 

 of gastric contents. The tip contains a thermocouple, which makes possible 

 Intragastric temperature determinations and corrections, and an aspiration 



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