268 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



" Softened water exei'ts an inhibitory influence, due principally to the presence 

 of magnesium hydroxid. 



"The fact that salivary amylase acts more efficiently when the saliva is 

 diluted is an added argument in favor of water drinking with meals. 



"The influence of dilution, as above set forth, aids in explaining the better 

 digestion of ingested carbohydrates when accompanied by a copious water 

 ingestion." 



Contribution to the physiology of the intestine. — III, Tlie absorption of 

 mono and disaccharids, U. Lombroso (Arch. Farm^col. Sper. e Sci. Aff., IS 

 {1912), No. 12, pp. 5'i7-.566; ahs. in Zcnibl. Expt. Med., S (1913), No. 6, pp. 277, 

 278). — Little difference was noted in the absorption of different monosaccharid-s 

 in equivalent molecular solution. All were rapidly absorbed in the case of 

 hypertonic solutions, but a hypotonic solution of glucose was absorbed much 

 more slowly. 



Differences were noted in the resorption in the small intestine of disaccharids, 

 lactose being resorbed in smaller quantity than saccharose and maltose. The 

 last two showed no constant differences. The resorption of glucose solutions in 

 the small intestine is directly proportional to the time element, from which it 

 follows that the absolute amount of the resorbed sugar constantly grows less 

 since the greater part is resorbed in the first 15 minutes. No difference in the 

 rate was noted between a resorption during fasting and during digestion. 

 Experiments were made with dogs with intestinal fistulas. 



The alkalinity of the pancreatic and intestinal juices of living dogs, F. 

 AuEEBACH and H. Pick (Arb. K. Gsndhtsamt., JfS {1912), No. 2, pp. 155-186). — 

 The examination of 3 samples of intestinal juice and 19 of pancreatic juice 

 obtained from animals with permanent fistulas showed the alkalinity of these 

 juices to be only about equal to that of a solution of sodium bicarbonate, and 

 not nearly as great as that of a sodium carbonate solution. 



The inorganic constituents of both fluids consisted cliiefly of sodium bicar- 

 bonate and sodium chlorid, the bicarbonate predominating in the pancreatic 

 and the chlorid in the intestinal fluid. Both juices had the same degree of 

 alkalinity. The author suggests that experiments with pancreatic and intesti- 

 nal ferments should be carried out in solutions of sodium bicarbonate, or, bet- 

 ter still, in solutions of sodium bicarbonate containing free carbonic acid, in 

 order to conform to natural conditions. 



Experiences with duodenal and stool ferments in health, and disease, B. B. 

 Crohn {Orig. Commun. 8. Internat. Cong. Appl. Cheni. [Washington and New 

 York'], 19 {1912), Sect. Vllld, pp. 73-82).— The variations in activity of the 

 ferments in the duodenum as secreted normally were found to be within cer- 

 tain definite limits. 



From a comparison with those of the activity of the ferments secreted under 

 pathological conditions the author believes that the method described may be 

 of use in diagnosis of diseases of the pancreas. 



The effect of sodium chlorid and cold storage upon the activities of pro- 

 teolytic enzyms, W. N. Berg (Orig. Commun. 8. Internat. Cong. Appl. Chem. 

 [Washington and New York], 19 {1912), Sect. Vllld, pp. 25-27 ) .—From a study 

 of changes taking place in milk and butter kept in cold storage it was found 

 that a temperature of 0° F. and a sodium chlorid content of 18 per cent would 

 inhibit the action of a proteolytic enzyfti if the amount of enzym were small, 

 but not if the amount of enzym were large. 



The utilization of individual proteins by man as influenced by repeated 

 fasting, P. E. Howe and P. B. Hawk {Orig. Commun. 8. Internat. Cong. Appl. 

 Chem. [Washington and New York], 19 {1912), Sect. VI I Id, pp. lJi5-l.\7).—K 

 study was made of the utilization of substances like meat, milk, gUdin, and 



