560 EXPEKIMENT STATION EECORD. [Vol.35 



made of the action of temperature and gastric juice upon the spores of Peni- 

 C'illium and Aspergillus and the pathogenic properties of molds isolated from 

 human and animal feces by means of intravenous injections and feeding experi- 

 ments made on laboratory animals. 



In summarizing the results of the investigation, the author states in part 

 that " the occurrence of fungi in the alimentary canal of man has been proved 

 to be more frequent than was formerly supposed. In analyzing samples of 

 human feces the following molds were isolated: A. fiimigatus, A. flaws, A. 

 niger, A. nidulans, A. umbrinus, A. terreus, P. divaricatum, Oidium lactis. In 

 addition numerous yeasts were found. . . . 



" The temperature modifies the toxic action of the gastric juice in this way : 

 An increase in temperature above the optimum for the fungus increases the 

 toxicity of the juice to the species. Molds with low optima are, therefore, 

 killed when passing V rough the alimentary canal, while thermophilous species 

 pass through alive. Accordingly, only molds with comparatively higher optima 

 are found in feces of warm-blooded animals while feces of cold-blooded animals 

 yield molds with low optima as well. 



" Intravenous injections in rabbits of .4. terreus, A. umbrinus, and P. divari- 

 eatuni showed no pathogenic properties of these molds. 



"Feeding of spores and mycelium of A. fumigatus, A. flatus, A. niger, A. 

 nidulans, A. umhrinus, A. terreus, P. avellaneum, and P. divaricatum to rabbits 

 proved to be fatal. The symptoms of poisoning from the toxic molds were 

 muscular convulsions resembling tetanus, weakness, and paralysis, followed by 

 death. 



"An accumulation of molds in the alimentary canal of m.an may lead to 

 serious disturbances and should, therefore, receive due attention." 



A bibliography of cited literature is appended. 



Chemical changes in the central nervous system as a result of restricted 

 vegetable diet, Mathilde L. Koch and C. Voegtlin {Pub. Health Serv. U. S., 

 Hyg. Lab. Bui. 103 {1916), pp. 5-}f9, figs. 12). — The small amount of experi- 

 mental data available regarding the chemical changes produced in the central 

 nervous system as the result of changes in diet shows that underfeeding with 

 a mixed diet leads to no marked changes except a high variation in the water 

 content, that starvation does not appear to change the composition of the brain, 

 and that an exclusive diet of polished rice leads to a decrease in the amount 

 of nitrogen and phosphorus in the brains of pigeons. 



In this investigation six laboratory animals (monkeys) were fed upon the 

 following diets: (a) Corn-oil cake, a substance poor in vitamin; (b) equal 

 parts of corn meal and sweet potatoes, a diet rich in carbohydrates and poor 

 in protein and fat; (c) corn meal; and (d) raw carrots. From a comparison 

 of the chemical composition of the encephalon and spinal cord of these six 

 monkeys with the composition of the encephalon and spinal cord of a normal 

 monkey maintained on a mixed diet as a control, the following conclusions 

 are drawn: 



" Chemical changes in the brain and cord are observed in animals (monkeys 

 and rats) as the result of an exclusive vegetable diet of various composition. 



Histological examination of the central nervous system of these animals 

 reveals extensive degeneration of many nerve tracts in the spinal cord, very 

 similar to those found in pellagra. 



In some of the animals the chemical changes are practically identical with 

 the changes observed in pellagra. These findings therefore yield additional 

 evidence for the theory that pellagra is a dietary disease." 



Chemical changes in the central nervous systems in pellagi'a, Mathilde L. 

 Koch and C. Voegtlin {Pub. Health Serv. U. S., Hyg. Lab. Bui. 103 {1916), 



