68 EXPEEIMENT STATION KECOED, 



Concerning- the digestibility of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, alone and 

 in combination, A. V. Sivkk (Diss. Army Med. Acad. [St. Pctcrsh.], 1909; rcc. 

 in VrarlicbiKniu (luz. [St. Petersh.'], 1909, No. 36, p. 1067; Zentbl. Gesam. Phy- 

 Hiol. u. Path. Staff wcchsels, n. sen, J, (1909), No. 23, pp. 889, 890).— The results 

 of 99 experiments are reported in which dogs with fistulfe were used as subjects. 



According to the author's results, meat (300 gm.) was rapidly digested in the 

 stomach so that after an hour 40 per cent of it had passed on into the intestine. 

 After 3 hours, the stomach and the greater part of the intestine was quiet. The 

 ileociecal portion, however, maintained increased work of secretion. Five hours 

 after taking food the stomach was empty of food residues. Meat digestion, 

 therefore, takes place principally in the stomach and chiefly during the first 

 2 or 3 hours after food is taken. The part played by the intestine is chiefly 

 that of absorption. 



Fat (25 gui. melted lard) passed from the stomach into the intestine in small 

 quantities during the first 5 or 6 hours of digestion without undergoing change 

 in its composition. After this the fat began to digest quickly and was princi- 

 pally absorbed in the ileum. 



Starch (GO gm. with 230 cc. water) passed rapidly into the intestine where 

 the digestion of starch takes place for the most part. Its digestion is most 

 active in the lower portion of the intestine. 



When meat and fat were fed together, the course of digestion of each was the 

 same as noted above, except that the digestibility of the meat was delayed and 

 the period of digestion lengthened. While the digestibility of fat was not in- 

 fluenced by the presence of meat, its absorption was increased. 



When meat and starch were fed together, the length of the period of diges- 

 tion increased and the absorption also increased. When starch and fat were 

 fed together, the starch remained for a 'longer time in the stomach than when 

 fed alone, but the fat passed a little more rapidly into the intestine. The ab- 

 sorption of carbohydrate was diminished and that of the fat increased over 

 the A'alues obtained when each was fed alone. 



When all three nutrients were fed in combination, the meat exercised the 

 greatest influence in the upper third of the intestine and the starch in the lower 

 third. The amount of chyle found in any given portion of the ileum when the 

 nutrients were fed in combination was equal to the sums of the quantities 

 which each of the components of the ration would furnish aldue. It may be 

 concluded, therefore, that the intestine reacts in a typical manner toward each 

 nutrient regardless of whether it is fed alone or in combination. 



Protein synthesis in the animal body J. OliN(;er (Eiir( is.ssyntfic.'^e iiii 

 Tierificlwn Orgaidsiiiii.s. Iiiaug. Diss., Univ. Bern, 190S, pp. 22, pi. 1). — In the 

 experiments reported the author fed a dog with material obtained by thoroughly 

 digesting horseflesh successively with gastric juice, pancreatin, and extract of 

 the mucous membrane of the intestine. The mixture of monamino acids ob- 

 tained was fed with sugar and fat and was readily eaten. The dog remained 

 in good condition when fed this material, but this was not the case when fed 

 the products obtained by the cleavage of milk powder, probably, the author 

 believes, owing to the fact that the material thus obtained contained much 

 fatty acid. 



The effect of massage on the metabolism of proteid, D. Rancken (Skand. 

 Arch. Pliysiot., 23 (1910), No. 3-4, pp. 219-294). — In the experiments reported 

 the author was not able to note a constant increase in the excretion of nitrogen 

 as a result of massage. 



The biological value of nitrogenous substances in different foods and the 

 physiological nitrogen minimum, K. Thomas (Arch. Anat. n. I'liysioL, Phys- 

 iol. AM., 1909, pp. 219-302; ahs. in Zentbl. Gesam. Physiol, u. Path. Staff- 



