860 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. [Vol. 35 



varied from 7.2 to 43.9 cents. It is stated that with care in selection a saving 

 of from 30 to 100 per cent may be made. The nutritive value per pound of 

 the different foods did not vary materially. 



Sanitary studies of baking powders. — Is aluminum absorbable from 

 bread, and similar food products, made with alum baking powder? W. J. 

 GiES {Biochem. Bid., 5 {1916), No. 20-21, pp. 151-157).— The author refers to 

 the apparent disagreement in the results of previous work by himself and col- 

 leagues (E. S. R., 26, p. 564) on the effect of aluminum salts and the findings of 

 the Referee Board of Consulting Scientific Experts of the U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture on the question of alum in baking powder (E. S. R., 31, p. 556). He 

 presents an outline of a further study of this question, to be carried out with the 

 independent cooperation of other investigators. This is to include a study of 

 analytical methods (noted on page 802 of this issue), an investigation of the 

 facts pertaining to the observation and examination of aluminum salts in the 

 case of human subjects, and a repetition of a portion of his earlier experiments 

 with laboratory animals (dogs). 



The bacteriology of the bubble fountain, Doeothy F. Pettibone, F. B. 

 BoGABT, and P. F. Clark (Jour. Bad., 1 {1916), No. 5, pp. ^71-480, fig. i).— The 

 investigation here reported was made as the result of an epidemic of strepto- 

 coccus tonsilitis, in which bubble fountains were suspected to be a factor in 

 transmitting the disease. The city water was found to be free from streptococci. 



"A survey of all the fountains of the University [of Wisconsin] showed the 

 presence of streptococci in over 50 per cent of the total number. The streptococci 

 varied in abundance from a few chains to an almost pure culture obtained by 

 swabbings from the fountains in the women's dormitory, 



" In an experimental bubble fountain. Bacillus prodigiosus when introduced 

 either by means of a pipette or by the moistened lips remained in the water from 

 2 to 135 minutes, depending partly on the height of the ' bubble.' 



" Most of the organisms are fiushed away, but some remain, dancing in the 

 column much as a ball dances on the garden fountain, even though the bubble be 

 increased to the impractical height of 4 in. 



" To avoid the difficulty always present in the vertical column, a simple foun- 

 tain with a tube at an angle of 50 degrees from the vertical was constructed. 

 B. prodigiosus was never found in the plates from this type of fountain, even 

 when samples were taken immediately after the introduction of the organ- 

 ism. ... [It is believed] that this type of fountain should be generally adopted. 

 Its simplicity, low cost of construction, and freedom froiu lurking danger should 

 recommend it to all." 



Court decision pertaining to the public health [including foods] {Pub. 

 Health Rpts. [TJ. S.}, Reprint 342 (1913-1916), pp. XXV +192). —This is a com- 

 pilation of judicial opinions which have been published in public health reports 

 between May 30, 1913, and July 14, 1916. Several of these opinions have to do 

 with pure-food laws and food sanitation. 



Report of the Bureau of Markets of the City of Newton, Mass. (Rpf. Bur. 

 Markets [Newton, ilass.}, 1915, pp. 56, pis. 2, figs. 10). — In addition to present- 

 ing a review of the work of the bureau for the three months ended December 31, 

 1915, this report discusses the underlying causes of high food costs and gives a 

 comparison of prices of produce sold in the public markets and in the retail stores 

 of Newton and in other places. 



Retail prices of food supplies in New Jersey (Ann. Rpt. Bur. Indus. Statis. 

 N. J., 88 (1915), pp. 149-157).— This is a compilation of the retail prices of a 

 selected list of food supplies prevailing during the month of June, 1915, as 

 reported by representative dealers in the principal centers of population of the 

 State. 



