FOODS HUMAN NUTRITION. 257 



Creatinin and creatin in starvation, G. Graham and E. P. Poulton {Jour. 

 Physiol., Jf8 (1914), ^^0. 5, pp. LI II, LIV). — In continuation of work previously 

 reported (E. S. R., 30, p. 864), the authors report the results of two complete 

 starvation experiments which " suggest that traces of ' true ' creatin are 

 excreted during absolute starvation lasting for three days." In the opinion 

 of the authors, owing to the extremely small amounts found and the liability 

 to error these results do not permit them to draw too definite conclusions. 



On uricolysis, A. E. Taylor and W. H. Adolph (Jour. Biol. Chem., 18 (1914), 

 No. 3, pp. 521-523). — An experiment is reported which shows that an increase 

 in the digestion of purin increases the output of urea nitrogen, while the out- 

 put of creatinin nitrogen x-emuins constant. 



The influence of a vitamin-free diet on the carbohydrate metabolism, C. 

 Funk and E. von Schonborn {Joxu: FhymoL, ^8 (f914). No. Jf, pp. 328-331).— 

 In the experiments here reported pigeons maintained upon a vitamin-free diet 

 developed a tendency to hyperglycemia with a decrease of glycogen in the liver. 

 In the case of a sugar-free diet the hyiierglycemia was especially marked and 

 was followed by the entire disappearance of liver glycogen. A formation of 

 glycogen in the liver and a diminution of sugar in the blood were produced by 

 the addition of yeast vitamin to the vitamin-free diet. In the case of a fat- 

 free diet an increase was noted in the liver glycogen. 



Calorimetric observations on man, J. S. Macdonald, F. A. Duffield, and 

 K. Lucas (Rpt. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci., 1913, pp. 262-264) .—In this progi-ess 

 report various changes in the apparatus are noted, the most important of 

 which is the changing of the calorimeter from one of the closed-type to an open- 

 type form of apparatus. The experiments which have been carried out tend 

 t<5 show that the total transformation of energy varies with the amount of 

 mechanical work performed and not with the length of time of the performance. 



The calorimeter has been previously described and earlier work I'eiwrted 

 (E. S. R., 30, p. 262). 



Improved myothermic apparatus, A. V. Hill and V. Weizsackee (Jour. 

 Physiol., 48 {1914), No. 4, XXXV, XXXVI).— The authors describe an appara- 

 tus for measuring the heat production involved in the contraction of isolated 

 muscles in which the rise of temperature of the muscles is measured directly 

 by means of a thermopile. 



The energy requirement of the new born, H. C Bailey and J. R. Murlin 

 (Proc. Soc. Expt. Biol, and Med., 11 {1914), No. 4, pp. 109-111).— In determin- 

 ing the desirability, from a phyiological standpoint, of supplementing the 

 colostrum with some artificial food during the first three days of life, the en- 

 orgy requirement of the new born was studied in a respiration incubator. 



The initial loss in weight, which averaged over 250 gm., was lessened by the 

 supplementary feeding of a milk mixture similar to colostrum. No digestive 

 disturbances were noted in the case of the extra feeding. 



"The respiratory quotient reaches as high as 1.0 on the first day of life 

 and indicates the combustion of carbohydrates. Thereafter it drops to 0.67 on 

 the second day and remains in the neighborhood of 0.7 for the following two 

 days, indicating a condition of starvation and the combustion of fat. After 

 the milk secretion is well established the quotient reaches 0.0, which is the 

 normal for a mixed diet." 



From a comparison of the energy requirement and the composition of a 

 number of samples of colostrum, the results apparently show that the breast 

 secretion is not sufficient to supply the energj'^ required until the fourth day. 

 *' Feeding the new born infants for the first three days, in addition to the breast 

 secretion, a formula of about the same composition as colostrum would appear 



