264 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 43 



both the deficiency and the parasite theory hold good in the etiology of the 

 disease among tlie Chinese in the Malay States. The freedom of the Malay 

 and Tamil laborers from the disease is thought to be due chiefly to the better 

 quality of their diet, which includes a variety of fresh vegetables and more or 

 less meat. That faulty diet is not solely responsible for the disease is shown 

 by the seasonal recurrences of symptoms in patients placed in a hospital with 

 adequate diets for considerable periods of time. 



" Whether the infecting agent is an organism which enters the gastro- 

 intestinal system and produces a toxin which gets absorbed into the system and 

 produces the varied symptomalogy, or whether owing to a deficiency in the 

 vitamins some deleterious products are created in the intestines and give rise 

 to an intoxication of the system, it is difficult to say at present." 



A study of the relation of diet to pellagra incidence in seven textile mill 

 communities of South Carolina in 1916, J. Golubergek, G. A. Wheelek, and 

 E. Syuenstricker {Pub. Health Rpts. [U. S.], 35 (1920), No. 12, pp. 6^8-714, 

 figs. 7).— This is a detailed report of the investigation of pellagra, a brief re- 

 poi't of which has been previously noted from another source (E. S. R., 40, p. G9). 



Experimental rickets, J. Koch (Arch. Wiss. u. Prakt. Tierheilk., ^5 (1919), 

 No. 5-6, pp. 263-326, figs. 36). — On the basis of bacteriological and histological 

 studies of the epiphysis and bones of rachitic children who had died of various 

 infectious diseases, the theory is advanced tliat rickets is primarily the result 

 of streptococcus infection. Further evidence in confirmation of this theory is 

 presented in reports illustrated by photographs and microphotographs of the 

 production of rickets in young dogs by artificial streptococcus infection. 



In discussing the various theories which have been advanced in explanation 

 of rickets, the author considers that other factors such as undernutrition bear 

 the same relation to rickets as to tuberculosis. The primary cause of each of 

 these diseases is a pathogenic organism which can more rapidly gain headway 

 in a subject weakened by malnutrition or by other secondary factors. 



The energy value of human urine in chronic undernutrition and in cases 

 of cachexia, together with a contribution to the method of urine calorim- 

 etry, O. FOrth and H. Kozitschek (Biochem. Ztschr., 96 (1919), No. 4-6, PP- 

 291-324. figs. 3). — Certain modifications in the technique of urine calorimetry 

 are recommended, including the drying in a vacuum at room temperature after, 

 a brief evaporation on the water bath, the oxidation of the residue in a rather 

 large platinum crucible, the use of a special ignition device, and measuring the 

 volume of the water for the calorimeter instead of weighing it. 



Determinations of the nitrogen and calorific value of the urine of chronically 

 undernourished individuals showed variations of from 0.027 to 0.08 gra. N and 

 335 to 814 calories for 10 cc. of the urine with a calorific quotient or from 9 to 

 13.3 in comparison with normal values of from 7.5 to 9.5. The calorific quotient 

 of the urine in various cachectic cases was also high (from 10.3 to 14.5). This 

 increase in the calorific quotient is considered to be due to the progressive de- 

 composition of the organ protoplasm with the separation of substances belonging 

 to the group of hydroxyamino acids. 



Studies of variations in the chemical composition of human blood, F. S. 

 Hammett (Jour. Biol. Cliem., 41 (1920), No. 4, pp. 599-615). — A study is re- 

 ported of the relative variability and reciprocal relations of the soluble nitro- 

 genous compounds in tlie blood associated with protein metabolism, and of the 

 total nitrogen and the sugar of the blood. Data are presented on the relative 

 variability of the blood components for the individual, the relative variability of 

 these constituents in a group series of bloods, the influence of the time of with- 

 drawal of the blood on its composition, and the clianges in the amounts, distri- 



