FOODS HUMAN NUTEITION. 265 



(11112), Sect. VITId, p. 209). — After a critical study of the purely experimental 

 results obtained by a couiuiission named at Bordeaux to sttudy the physiological 

 effect of sulijhurous acid in white wine, the author believes that the use of this 

 preservative in the wine should be strictly regulated until the actual dose that 

 the human organism can tolerate has been determined by au international 

 commission appointed for that purpose. 



Table luxuries, A. Grotjahn and J. Kaup {In Handicorfrrhuch der sozialen 

 Hygiene. Leipsic, 1012, pp. 389-397). — A brief treatise on the value, cost, and 

 extent of consumption of luxuries, with special reference to tea, coffee, and 

 tobacco. 



The g-ases evolved from roasted coffee, their composition and origin, R. A. 

 Gould (Abs. in Orig. Cominun. S. Jnternat. Cong. Appl. Chem. [Wafthington and 

 New York], 26 (1912), Sects. Yla-XIh, App., p. 389).— The author observed 

 that ground roasted coffee gave off gases (CO2 and CO) when packed in con- 

 tainers and exhausted. 



The proportion of CO- to CO was greater when the coffee was packed under 

 diminished pressure than under normal pressure. The gas is believed to be 

 due to the decomposition during the roasting process of glucosid-like bodies in 

 the green bean. 



The elimination and toxicity of caffein in nephrectomized rabbits, W. 

 Salant and J. B. Riegeb (V. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Chem. Bui. 166, pp. 31). — Ac- 

 cording to the authors' summary of their investigations, " the removal of both 

 kidneys in the rabbit stimulates to a marked degree the elimination of caffein 

 by the stomach, and to a greater degree the elimination by the intestines. 



" The amount of caffein found several hours after injection compared with 

 the amounts recovered about 24 hours after injection indicate that absorption 

 goes on simultaneously v/ith excretion. That reabsorption takes place is shown 

 by the absence of caffein from the gastrointestinal canal and by the presence of 

 very small quantities of it in the feces of nephrectomized rabbits which lived 

 5 to 7 days after the injection. 



" Elimination is most active during the first few hours after injection of 

 caffein. being more rapid by the intestine than by the kidney. 



" The undiminished resistance to the single dose and tolerance for large 

 amounts of caffein when subminimum doses are injected at sufficiently long 

 intervals points to the formation of substances antagonistic to caffein after the 

 removal of both kidneys." 



For earlier work see a previous note (E. S. R., 27, p. 464). A bibliography is 

 appended. 



The influence of caffein on mental and motor efficiency, H. L. Holling- 

 WORTH {Arch. Psych., 1912, No. 22; Columh. Contrib. Phil, and Psych., 20 

 {1912), No. 4, pp. V+166, figs. 31; rev. in Med. Rec. [N. Y.], 82 (1912), No. 7. 

 pp. 29^-296).— The results are given of a psychological study of the effects of 

 caffein on 16 individuals ranging in age from 19 to 30 years. 



With the steadiness test, doses of 1 to 4 grains were followed by slight 

 nervousness, while 6 grains produced marked unsteadiness. Small amounts 

 of caffein (1 to 3 grains) stimulated the power of coordination and increased 

 the speed of typewriting, while larger doses (4 to 6 grains) retarded both. 

 Both large and small doses stimulated the speed of association of ideas. 

 Sn?iill doses had no sleep-disturbing effect but doses of 6 grains impaired sleep 

 except in a few cases. The effect of caffein, as shown by all the tests applied, 

 was greatest when taken on an empty stomach and least when taken with 

 meals, especially in the morning. Its effect seemed to be independent of age 

 or sex but varied inversely with the body weight of the individual. 



