G64 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



" Lecithin, cephalin, cerebrosids, cliolesterol, and fats are dispensable parts 

 of a food for mice, but a substance is present in egg yolk [which is], insoluble 

 in ether, soluble in cold alcohol, and probably easily destroyed by heat, that 

 needs to be added to a synthetic food containing casein, starch, lactose, lard, 

 and the salts of milk, to make it a complete food." 



The therapeutic value of organic phosphorus compounds, E. K. Mar - 

 SHAT.T,, Jr. {Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc, 64 (1915), No. 7, pp. 573, 574). — A digest 

 of experimental data which support the yiew that the animal organism can 

 synthesize its complex organic phosphorus constituents from inorganic phos- 

 phates in the food. 



Studies of unbalanced diet. — H, Water distribution and edema following 

 the addition of salts to the diet, P. Tachau (Biochem. Ztschr., 67 (1914), No. 

 4-5, pp. 338-348). — The addition, in gradually increasing quantities, of inorganic 

 salts (sodium chlorid, sodium phosphate, and sodium lactate) to the diet of 

 laboratory animals (mice) appeared to have no influence upon the total water 

 content of the body, although it led to the occurrence of edema. The cause of 

 the edema was believed to be osmosis. Earlier work has been noted (E. S. R., 

 33, p. 6S). 



The effect upon appetite of the chemical constituents of the air of occupied 

 rooms, C. E. A. Winslow and G. T. Paxmee (Proc. Soc. Expt. Biol, and Med., 

 12 '(1915), No. 7, pp. 141-144)- — The authors having noted in previous experi- 

 ments carried out by the New York State Commission on Ventilation that 

 vitiated air apparently caused a diminished appetite for food, this series of 

 experiments was conducted. The subjects of the experiments (men and 

 women) were placed in an observation room and on certain days were supplied 

 with fresh air; on the other days no fresh air was supplied and the products 

 of respiration were allowed to accumulate. Temperature and humidity were 

 so regulated as to be the same on ventilation and nonventilation days. On 

 each experimental day after the subjects had been in the chamber from 2 to 3 

 hours they were served a weighed luncheon of known calorific value and the 

 amount of this eaten was determined. 



From these experiments the conclusions were drawn that " there are sub- 

 stances present in the air of an unventilated, occupied room (even when its 

 temperature and humidity are controlled) which in some way, and without 

 producing conscious discomfort or detectable physiological symptoms, diminish 

 the appetite for food. The effect of such an influence might in time be very 

 important, and it seems possible that the observed beneficial effects of fresh 

 air may to some extent be connected with this phenomenon." 



On the respiratory exchange in fresh-water fi.sh. — II, On brown trout, J. A. 

 Gabdsee and Constance Leetham (Biochem. Jour., 8 (1914), ^o. 6, pp. 591- 

 597, fig. 1). — In continuation of previous work (E. S. R.. 32, p. 565), the 

 apparatus employed is described, and data are reported regarding the amounts 

 of oxygen necessary to maintain the life of the fish at different temperatures 

 and under different pressures. 



ANIMAL PEODUCTION. 



The stockfeeder's companion, J. Poeteb (London: G-umey and Jackson, 

 1915, pp. XX+S16, pis. S3, figs. 5). — ^A general treatise on stock feeding and 

 management, especially applicable to English conditions. Summaries of a 

 large number of English experiments and feeding trials are included. 

 ■ The international movement of feeding stuffs (Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome^, 

 Mo. Bui. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 6 (1915), No. 4. PP- 4S1-516). — ^Thla 



