FOODS — HUMAN NUTRITION. 763 



The influence of fat and carbohydrate on the excretion of endogenous 

 purins in the urine of dog and man, N. Umeda (Biochcm. Jour., 9 {1915), No 

 Jf, pp. .'i.21-.'i3S). — In feeding experiments in which the autlior served as subject, 

 diets containing varying proportions of protein, fat, and carbohydrate, but 

 purin-free, were consumed in an attempt to get further information concerning 

 the synthesis of uric acid in the human body. 



The conclusions drav^'n are in part as follows : The protein-sparing action of 

 carbohydrate as compared with fat is clearly demonstrated. In the case of 

 man there is some evidence of the synthetic formation of uric acid when the 

 diet is rich in carbohydrate. In fat-rich diets which are carbohydrate-poor 

 the output of uric acid is markedly diminished. 



The influence of the diet, especially of carbohydrates, on the secretion of 

 the urine of infants, A. Niemann {Jahrb. Kindcrheilk., 82 {1915), No. 1, pp. 21- 

 44,' «&s. w Zcnthl. Physiol., 30 [1915], No. 11, p. 488). — Instances are described 

 in which normal infants accustomed to a milk diet were given an addition of 

 from 40 to 50 gm. of carbohydrate daily. The amount of urine excreted was 

 considerably increased, and at the same time a gain in weight was noted. The 

 author concludes that the hydrolytic cleavage of di- and polysaccharids pro- 

 duces a storing up of glycogen, which is responsible for these results. 



The cultivation of fat-containing organisms. (A present and future 

 problem), Lindner {Uinsrliau, 19 {1915) No. 52, pp. 1027-1032, figs. 5).— De- 

 scriptions are given of a number of organisms which have the property of 

 converting the carbohydrate of the culture medium into fat. 

 . Studies on water drinking. — XVIII, On the relation between water inges- 

 tion and the ammonia, phosphate, chlorid, and acid excretion, D. "\V. Wilson 

 and P. B. Hawk {Jour. Amcr. Chcm. Soc, 36 {191.',), No. S, pp. 1774-1779).— In 

 continuation of previous work (E. S. R., 30, p. 766), the authors report experi- 

 ments with two normal young men who received a simple mixed diet and vary- 

 ing quantities of water at mealtime and between meals. 



The excretion of chlorids showed small variations. Increased water inges- 

 tion was followed by increased excretion of urinary ammonia, phosphates, and 

 acids. In the author's opinion the data indicate an " increased cell metabolism, 

 causing a formation of acid products which are partly neutralized by ammonia 

 formation and partly cause increased acid phosphates in the urine." 



Studies on water drinking. — XIX, Intestinal putrefaction as influenced by 

 the ingestion of softened and distilled waters, C. P. Sherwin and P. B. Hawk 

 {Jour. Amer. Chcm. Soc, 36 {1914), No. 8, pp. 1779-1785).— Two series of ex- 

 periments are reported by which the effect of drinking softened and distilled 

 water on intestinal putrefaction was studied with human subjects. The authors 

 conclude that " both softened and distilled water when taken with meals in 

 volumes ranging from 500 cc. to 1,000 cc. have a tendency to cause a decrease 

 in the putrefactive processes in the intestine as indicated by the urinary indican 

 excretion. 



"The nonparallelism of the indican and total ethereal sulphate elimination 

 was again observed." 



Acidosis and some of the factors which influence it, R. M. Lang {Biochem. 

 Jour., 9 {1915), No. 4, PP- 456-478). — A number of feeding experiments in which 

 the author himself was the subject are reported. Acidosis in starvation and 

 the influence of the nature of the diet, as well as the specific effects of feeding 

 protein, fat, and carbohydrate were the factors studied. The following con- 

 clusions are drawn : 



" The quantity of acetone bodies excreted by the normal individual, on an 

 ordinary diet containing a sufficiency of carbohydrate, is influenced chiefly by 

 the protein intake. On an ordinary diet from 10 to 30 mg. are excreted daily. 



