FOODS HUMAN NUTRITION. 667 



Znlulanrl, and .'^. fonnicdiuni fmiiul in the nest of Foniiicit nif(t in Sweden, are 

 described as belonging to the new genus Speleorchestes. 



Epidemic of silver maple leaf-mite, A. C. Uukkill (BhI. Wis. \(it. flixt. Soc. 

 n. scr., 7 (1909), Xo. 3-.'i, pp. 123-129).— PhyUocoptrs [Eriopliycs] quadripcH 

 is said to have been imnsnally abundant and injurious to the silver maple at 

 Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. A bibliography is included. 



The present status of our knowledge of the role of arthropods in the trans- 

 mission of infectious diseases of vertebrates, P. Manteufel (Zool. Zenthl., 

 16 (1909), Xo. 2-3, pp. J, 1-81; abs. in Bui. Inst. Pasteur, 7 (1909), Xo. 19, p. 

 811). — This general review of the subject is accompanied by a bibliography of 

 the more important literature. 



The development of a piroplasm and trypanosome of CF.ttle in artificial 

 culture media, E. Martini (Zfschr. Hyg. u. Infcktionskrank., 64 (1909), No. S, 

 pp. 385-391, pis. !{, figs. 2). — This account has been substantially noted from 

 another source (E. S. R., 21, p. 784). A bibliography of 23 titles is appended. 



The development of Hasmoproteus orizivorae n. sp., G. ANScniJTz (Centhl. 

 Bakt. [etc.], 1. Abt., Grig., 51 (1909), Xo. 6, pp. 651,-659, pis. 2).— This new 

 species was taken from the ricebird or padda (Spcrmcstcs orizivora) . 



FOODS— HUMAN NUTRITION. 



The bleaching' of flour and the effect of nitrites on certain medicinal sub- 

 stances, W. Hale (Pub. Health and Mar. Hosp. Serv. U. S., Hyg. Lab. Bui. 68, 

 pp. Jf-i). — The natural and artificial bleaching of flour, the changes which take 

 place in the flour, the effects produced by different amounts of nitric oxid gas 

 under laboratory conditions, and similar matters are considered, and the 

 results of an experimental study reported in which artificial digestion experi- 

 ments and digestion experiments with small animals were made. 



Sodium nitrite and its action on other drugs was also studied with small 

 animals, the amount used being greatly in excess of that found in bleached flour. 

 The author believes the results are nevertheless suggestive. The results of the 

 experiments were summarized as follows: 



" The gluten of unbleached flour of the same grist is more easily digested 

 by an artificial gastric juice than that of flours bleached with varying amounts 

 of nitrogen peroxid. 



" Sodium nitrite, when added to an artificial gastric juice in a strength of 1 

 part to 5,(XX) to 200,000 (40 to only 1 part of nitrogen per 1,000,000), lessens 

 its proteolytic action from a marked to a just determinable degree. 



"Alcoholic extracts made from slightly to markedly overbleached (over- 

 treated) flour are toxic for white mice and rats when given subcutaneously. 

 Alcoholic extracts of unbleached flour prepared in the same way are not toxic. 



"Alcoholic extracts of slightly ta markedly overbleached (overtreated) flour 

 are devoid of any marked toxic action on rabbits when given per stomach. 

 Those from overtreated flour caused a somewhat more marked diminution in 

 weight in one series, a negligible decrease in another. 



" Sodium nitrite, even in very dilute acid solution (up to 1 part to 20,000,000 

 or 1 part to 100,000,000 of nitrogen as nitrite) causes definite color and chemical 

 changes in a large number of common medicinal substances. 



" Sodium nitrite in dilute acid solution (up to 1 part to 20,000 or 1 part to 

 100,000 of nitrogen as nitrite) markedly increases the toxic action of a number 

 of medicinal substances. In certain eases no effect is produced and in others 

 the toxicity is lessened. 



"The application of these results to the possible harmful effects of the arti- 

 ficial bleaching of flour suggests that a deleterious action does result because 



