564 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



determine whether the stimulating action of water-soluble B on catalase pro- 

 duction is direct or indirect. Liver extracts of polyneuritic pigeons were b 

 for catalase with and without the addition of three different vitamin extracts. 

 None of the vitamiu extracts showed any activity toward hydrogen peroxid, 

 nor did the addition of the vitamin extract produce an Increase in the amount 

 of the oxygen liberated from hydrogen peroxid by the liver extract. The 

 authors conclude that the results Indicate thai " water-soluble B does not act 

 as a direct activator of catalase. but Instead probably (on account of its 

 physiological properties) stimulates the organism to greater production of 

 catalase." 



III. Observations on (/<•■ curatiu properti* a of honey, nectar, and corn pollen 

 in avian polyneuritis, R. a. Dutcher (pp. .v.! 555). — From feeding experiments 

 with polyneuritic pigeonsi it is concluded that honey contains a small but negli- 

 gible amount of water-soluble B, that there is very little evidence of the pres- 

 ence of water-soluble B in the dilute unevaporated nectar, ami that coru pollen 

 is relatively rich in this vitamin. 



The author concludes thai the -mall amount of water-soluble B in honey may 

 have its origin in the poll, n of flowering plants. 



The vitamins in green foods, T. I'. OSBO&NB, I.. I'.. Mi.mhi m ai.. [J oar. 

 Biol, Clienu, ■(? 11919), No. i. /<//. (81 100, pis. 8). The occurrence of Cat- 

 soluble and water-soluble vitamins In ct rtain gr< en plants was studied by means 

 of feeding experiments with rats. To determine the content of each of the 

 vitamins, the producl tested was fed in combination with a diet rich In the 

 other vitamin. The substances tested consisted of the leaves and sten 

 spinach, the sound inner leaves of cabbage, ami the entire plant of young 

 alfalfa, clover, and timothy air-dried at from 50 to 00" 0. ami finely ground, 



The results obtained Indicate that l" per cent of spinach supplied somewhat 

 less than enough of the water-soluble vitamin hut an abundance of the. fat- 

 soluble vitamin for normal growth in tin' rat. Fifteen per cent of the cabbage 

 is apparently equivalent to about i" per cent of spinach In respect to water- 

 soluble vitamin. Preliminary experiments with the remaining plants Indicate 



that the water soluble vitamin content of clover ami timothy is comparable with 



cabbage, while that of alfalfa is somewhat higher. The content in fat- 



SOlublc vitamin is apparently very high, 



The authors point out that from the limited data now available the -recti 



vegetables appear to supply an important addition to the diet of man. beca u se 



the staples, such as cereals, meats, potato.-, fats, at ir furnish too small 



an amount of either of these vitamins to meet fully the requirements of au 

 adequate dietary. 



The " vitamins " or " accessory factors " in relation to dietary problems 

 arising from the war. A. B, Mai OXtTU i imer. !/<•/.. n. Bar., /•-< {.1918), \ 

 ;«;/. /.'n ■ j.tj i.-'-This is a brief review of the literature on the occurrence, func- 

 tion, and Stability Of the vitamins. 



Rations in relation to disease in Mesopotamia. \Y. 11. WlLLOOX {La 

 [London]. 1917, U. No. 18, i>. 677).- Tim seal.' of the ration of British and In- 

 dian troops before and after revision is considered. 



Bach ration scale was found to furnish a very satisfactory British ration. 

 In the ration scale of July 4. 1916, the Indian ration showed a deficiency of 



protein and fat ami a large excess 1 1 1 m i per cent) of carbohydrate. The 

 revised ration scale showed if "atta" (an Indian Hour containing the 

 aleurone layer and the wheal germ) were supplied, an adequate amount of 

 protein and fat was furnish..!, but still a largi excess 170 pel cent) of oarbo 



