768 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



A'ein also contains more residual nitrogen than the arterial blood during the 

 absorption of the meal. 



The residual nitrogen of the blood before and during the absorption of a 

 mixture of amino acids introduced into the intestine, H. Delaunay (Gompt. 

 Rend. Soc. Biol. [Paris'], IJf {19 IS), No. 13, pp. 769, 770).— The introduction 

 into the ligatured intestine of a fasting animal of the mixture of amino acids re- 

 sulting from the prolonged digestion of meat was followed within an hour by 

 slight but distinct increases in the amounts of nitrogen titratable with formol 

 and of free amino nitrogen present in the arterial blood, and by an increase in 

 the amount of free amino nitrogen in the blood of the portal vein over the 

 amount contained in the arterial blood. 



The results of these experiments, together with those reported in the article 

 noted above, lead the author to believe that there is, to some extent at least, a 

 rapid and direct absorption of amino acids by the intestinal mucosa which is 

 followed by a rapid decomposition of these compounds in the liver. This de- 

 composition is indicated by the excess of amino nitrogen in the blood of the 

 portal vein and the rapid increase of urea in the blood. 



On fat absorption. — II, Absorption of fat-like substances other than fats, 

 W. R. Bloob (Jour. Biol. Chem., 15 (1913), No. 1, pp. 105-117).— In continua- 

 tion of previous work (E. S. R., 27, p. 272), experiments were carried out with 

 dogs to study the absorption of two classes of fat-like substances, namely, 

 petroleum hydrocarbons and unsaponifiable esters (wool fat). These sub- 

 stances were similar to ordinary fats in most of their properties. They emulsi- 

 fied well with dilute alkalis, were soluble in fats and fat solvents, and melted 

 below body temperature, but they could not be reduced to water-soluble form 

 in the intestine. 



In the author's opinion, " the slow passage of the fats from the stomach, the 

 abundant provision for hydrolysis and for the absorption of the products of 

 hydrolysis in the intestine, and the failure of absorption of fat-like substances 

 which can not be changed to a water-soluble form, make it extremely probable 

 that fats can be absorbed only in water-soluble form and that saponification is 

 a necessary preliminary to absorption." 



The pathological changes in pellagra and the production of the disease in 

 lower animals, L. Nicholls (Jour. Hyg. [Cambridge], 13 (1913), No. 2, pp. 

 11/9-161, pis. 2). — The results are reported of a histological comparison of 

 lesions found in post-mortem examinations of human beings who had died of 

 pellagra with the lesions produced in rats by adding to their food either sour 

 maize or corn meal which had been inoculated with cultures of various organ- 

 isms isolated from sour maize. From the similarity of these lesions, the con- 

 clusion is drawn that " corn meal acted upon by various organisms develops 

 toxins which may produce in animals a condition analogous to pellagra in man." 



Metabolism during mental work (Rev. Sci. [Paris], 51 (1913), II, No. 7, 

 p. 210). — A series of experiments carried out by A. Lehmann are reviewed, in 

 which it was observed that the addition of a number of figures and the memoriz- 

 ing of a number of syllables resulted in an increase in the production of carbon 

 dioxid. The greater the difficulty of the mental work, as measured by the 

 degree of attention, the greater was the increase in the amount of carbon dioxid 

 produced. 



ANIMAL PHODUCTIOIir. 



Silage. — The stack system, W. Dibble (Jour. Agr. [New Zeal.], 6 (1913), 

 No. 6, pp. 609-615, figs. 4). — An article dealing with the New Zealand method 

 of preserving silage by the stack system, in which the grasses or fodder plants 

 for silage are cut when in the most succulent stage. The addition of ^ lb. salt 



