VETERINARY MEDICINE. 381 



On the other hand, the use of exhaust steam may lessen the work of the boiler 

 to the extent of 1 horsepower to each 400 lbs. of cream pasteurized per hour. 



The flash process, in which the cream is raised to a high temperature for a 

 short time only, was found to require about 17 per cent more heat than that 

 needed for the holder process, in which the temperature is maintained for a 

 longer time at a somewhat lower point. In consequence, the flash process calls 

 for a corresponding increase in the quantity of water used in cooling, and the 

 total cost is somewhat greater than in the holder process. 



Standardization and branding of dairy produce, T. Macklin {Hoard's 

 Dairyman, 50 {1915), No. 16, pp. 481, 490, 491). — A discussion of New Zealand 

 methods of dairying, the progress that country has made in methods of stand- 

 ardization and branding of dairy products, and the resulting remarkable export 

 trade in butter. It is suggested that the United States adopt similar methods. 



VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



Gossypol, the toxic substance in cotton-seed meal, W. A. Withers and 

 F. E. Cakruth {U. S. Dept. Agr., Jour. Agr. Research, 5 {1915), No. 1, pp. 261- 

 288, pis. 2). — This is the third paper in a series of studies of cotton-seed meal 

 toxicity reported from the North Carolina Station, of which the first two have 

 previously been noted (E. S. R., 29, p. 477). 



The results of the investigations here reported in detail have been sum- 

 marized by the authors as follows : " Gossypol, first isolated by Marchlewski 

 from cotton-seed oil and considered by him a prospective dyestuff, was ex- 

 tracted by us from cotton-seed kernels and found to possess toxic properties. 

 Cotton-seed kernels were used as the initial material instead of cotton-seed 

 meal because they yield gossypol more readily to solvents and are toxic to about 

 the same extent. Ethyl ether was used as the solvent, the kernels having been 

 extracted with gasoline to remove most of the oil. Evaporation of the ether 

 leaves a crude product which we have designated ' gossypol extract.' A purer 

 product, ' precipitated gossypol,' was obtained from the ethereal solution by the 

 addition of gasoline, and a crystalline product, ' gossypol acetate,' by precipita- 

 tion by acetic acid. 



" Gossypol was fatal to rabbits when administered intraperitoneally in the 

 form of gossypol extract or crystalline gossypol acetate, either when fed in one 

 large dose in the form of gossypol extract or when fed in small daily doses in 

 the form of gossypol extract, precipitated gossypol, or gossypol ' acetate.' " 



" The smallest amount of gossypol administered intraperitoneally by us and 

 found fatal to rabbits was 0.24 gm. of crystalline gossypol acetate per kilogram 

 of live weight." 



" Gossypol forms an oxidation product which is nontoxic. Cotton-seed kernels 

 are rendered less toxic by the partial extraction of gossypol and nontoxic by a 

 more nearly complete extraction of it. Methods for rendering cotton-seed ker- 

 nels nontoxic depend upon extracting the gossypol or changing it to physiologi- 

 cally inert forms by oxidation or by precipitation." 



A list of 23 references to the literature cited is appended. 



The influence of oil of Chenopodium on intestinal contractility, "W. 

 Salant and C. W. Mitchell {Amer. Jour. Physiol., 39 {1915), No. 1, pp. 37-53, 

 figs. 9). — The authors' investigations have been summarized as follows: 



" Oil of Chenopodium in dilutions of 1 : 5,000 and 1 : 10,000 in Locke's solu- 

 tions produces in the isolated Intestine of rabbits a marked decrease of tone 

 which remains permanent and diniiuishes frequency as well as force of contrac- 

 tions which disappeared altogether in 20 to 25 minutes. Recovery occurred 

 when the intestinal segments were placed in Locke's solution without oil of 

 Chenopodium. 



