570 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECORD. 



of the diet may become beneficial by interfering witli ttie estaolisliment of any 

 one type of bacteria in the intestine. It appears . '. . that this view harmonizes 

 with certain well observed clinical results of variation in diet in infancy and in 

 adult life." The author hopes that before long definite data will be forthcom- 

 ing regarding " the precise influence of rapid alternations of this kind in pre- 

 venting the acclimatization of well-defined but undesirable types of micro- 

 organisms. 



According to the author, definite statements can not be made as yet as to the 

 extent of the application of the facts noted to pathological conditions in man. 

 " It is not likely that they are directly applicable, and it is doubtless true that 

 varied researches would have to be undertaken to decide in what way the 

 typical adaptations . . . are modified by the existence of inflammatory condi- 

 tions, bacterial infections, or other pathological states." 



In connection with the discussion some data are given regarding corn meal 

 fed to monkeys used for experimental purposes. The experiments indicate that 

 the animals may thrive for weeks and months though the diet be made up ex- 

 clusively of corn meal. On a corn diet the bacterial conditions in the intestine 

 were found to be " midway between those described as characteristic of the 

 protein diet and those described as characteristic of the sugar-milk diet; that 

 is to say we have represented both acidophilic bacteria and proteolyzing 

 bacteria. Special fermentative acetic acid producing bacteria play a part in 

 such a diet. These remarks, however, apply to the unfermented corn." When 

 raw corn meal was fed which had fermented spontaneously owing to the 

 presence of moisture, different phenomena were observed, but this point is not 

 discussed further in the present paper. 



The resorption of cellulose in the intestine under normal and pathological 

 conditions, F. Moeller (Intcrnat. Beitr. Path. ti. Titer. Ernlilirungsstdr. Stoffw. 

 u. Vcr(Ianiinf/sJ:rank., 1 {1910), No. 3, pp. 325-331). — Experiments are reported 

 in which 750 gm. raw carrots was added to a basal ration under control condi- 

 tion.s. On the basal ration alone the coefficient of digestibility of cellulose was 

 G4.9 per cent and on the diet with raw carrots 75.2 per cent. The i-esults are 

 discussed in comparison with results of tests which the author made under 

 pathological conditions. 



Gas resorbed in the intestine, K. Kato (Intermit. Beitr. Path. u. Ther. 

 Ernuhrungsstiir. Stoffiv. v. VcrdauuiH/skrauk., 1 (1910), No. 3, pp. 315-324). — 

 According to the experimental data reported, the greater part of the intestinal 

 gas was resorbed from the intestinal walls, the resorption of carbon dioxid 

 being especially marked. The resorption of oxygen was much smaller, while 

 in experiments of short duration neither hydrogen nor nitrogen was resorbed. 

 Diffusion was found to be a matter of small moment in the disappearance of 

 gas. 



The experiments are discussed with reference to pathological conditions. 



ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



The laws of heredity, G. A. Reid (London, 1910. pp. XI +5^8, figs. 2J).— The 

 laws of heredity as far as known and their applications are discussed from 

 the standpoint of a natural selectionist. The views expressed are similar to those 

 in the author's previous books, Alcoholism; A Study in Heredity, and The Prin- 

 ciples of Heredity, with additional data on Mendelism and mutation which 

 have been obtained since the other books were published. 



The author's views are somewhat different from those of other writers on 

 this topic, as is shown in the following quotations : '-' Mutations are so rare 

 that as factors in evolution they are negligible." "The function of sex is 



