19161 FOODS — HUMAN NUTRITION. 559 



Conditions of diet and nutrition in the internment camp at Ruhleben, A. E. 

 Taylor {London: Govt., 1916, pp. i2).— The data presented in this report are 

 based on a 7-day study of the dietary in the camp. 



The following requirements are given for a complete, sufficient, and normal 

 diet : " It must contain protein sufficient in amount and representative in com- 

 ponent amino acids to maintain the tissues and cells of the body in a state 

 of normal composition and function. ... It may be stated that from 70 

 to 90 gm. of protein per day are fully competent to maintain normal nutrition 

 in the adult male (not engaged in hard work), provided that the proteins offer 

 the body all the needed amino acids and that the diet is rich in carbohydrate." 



The diet should also contain a sufficient amount of fuel (largely in the form 

 of carbohydrate) to furnish at least 30 calories per kilogi-am of body weight 

 per day. It must contain from 25 to 50 gm. of fat per person per day, the 

 various salts required in the body, and certain unknown substances grouped 

 under the term " vitamins," and it should not consist entirely of preserved 

 or conserved foodstuffs. 



In addition, the author lays considerable emphasis on the fact that the diet 

 to be entirely adequate must take into some account the habits, tastes, and 

 customs of the persons fed. It is pointed out that diets tolerated under normal 

 conditions may become intolerable under conditions of confinement and that 

 monotony of the diet should be avoided, since it may lead to reduced appetite 

 and consequently impaired nutrition. Monotony of the diet is less noticeable 

 if it is one to which the individual has been accustomed. 



As a result of this investigation a number of changes in the diet of the 

 camp are recommended and embodied in this report. 



Review of the literature on the metabolism of normal infants, W. McK. 

 Marriott {Amer. Jour. Diseases Children, 12 (1916), No. 1, pp. 88-102). — In 

 this summary and digest of data the results obtained by a number of investi- 

 gators on different phases of this subject are brought together. Most of the 

 material has been previously noted from the original sources. 



The question of cellulose digestion, W. Eli^nberger (Hoppe-Seyler's Ztschr. 

 Physiol. Chem., 96 (1915), No. 3, pp. 236-25^). — A preliminary note discussing 

 the factors which influence cellulose digestion. 



The antiseptic action of the gastric juice, J. P. Gregersen (Centbl. Bakt. 

 [etc.], 1. Abt., Orig., 77 (1916), No. 4, Pp. 353-361).— The object of these experi- 

 ments was to determine the influence of the acidity of the gastric juice upon 

 its bactericidal action and whether or not any other factors were involved. 

 Samples of the gastric contents were obtained from a number of individuals 

 45 minutes after the ingestion of an Ewald test meal (35 gm. of toast and 250 

 gm. of water), the acidity of the contents measured by titration, and the bacteri- 

 cidal property determined, Staphylococcus pyogenes aureus being the organism 

 used. In some of the samples different degrees of acidity were secured by the 

 addition of hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxid before determining the bacteri- 

 cidal property. 



It was found that the bactericidal power of the stomach contents varied 

 directly as the amount of free acid present and was not influenced by the 

 combined acidity or the amount of pepsin present. The bactericidal action of 

 the gastric juice was from 3 to 4 times as strong as corresponding strengths 

 t" the pure acid in water. 



The presence and sig'nificance of molds in the alimentary canal of man 

 and higher animals, G. Turesson (Svensk Bot. Tidskr., 10 (1916), No. 1, 

 pp. 1-27). — This article reports the results of the isolation and investigation of 

 molds in samples of feces from 13 different persons, two of whom were vege- 

 tarians. In addition to determining the species present investigations were 



