364 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. [Vol. 41 



tering fats exclusively after two days' treatment with peptone the respiratory 

 quotient in a following period of starvation was the same as that after peptone, 

 but on administering amino acids or proteins the resulting respiratory quotient 

 indicated combustion of carbohydrates, showing that carbohydrates can be 

 formed from pi-oteins. Such a formation is thought to take place, however, 

 only when carbohydrates are lacking in the organism. 



Observation on hyperglycemia and glycosuria, H. J. Hambukgeb {Brit- 

 Mrd. Jour., Xo. 3036 (1919), pp. 267-271). — From perfusion experiments with 

 isolated frog kidneys, the author concludes that the glomerular membrane of 

 the kidney has the power of retaining free glucose. This power appears to be 

 governed by the influence of the chemical composition of the perfusion liquid 

 upon the glomerular epithelium, a definite relation between Ca and K ions 

 being necessary. 



This is thought to render needless the conception of a colloidal sugar com- 

 pound (the " Sucre virtuel " of Lupine). The rentention of glucose is con- 

 sidered to be due rather to the structure or configuration of the molecule. 

 If there i-s hyperglycemia of a certain degree the glomerular epithelium 

 weakens and allows glucose to pass through, causing a state of glycosuria. 



The splitting of neutral salts in contact with colloids with the formation 

 of acids and bases, A. Scala (Ann. Ig. [Rome^, 28 (.1918), 2^o. 11, pp. 605-619). — 

 Animal gelatin, agar, siliceous gelatin, and muscular flesh were allowed to 

 stand with distilled water for 12 hours, the water drained off and titrated for 

 acidity, and the process repeated until the wash water was neutral. The same 

 process was repeated after the addition of from 0.5 to 1 gm. of various salts 

 to the neutral colloidal material. 



Sodium chlorid and sulphate were found to form with animal and vegetable 

 colloids complexes which on hydrolysis formed acids, while the complexes with 

 disodium pliosphate tended to form alkalis. It is pointed out that these states 

 in normal physiological conditions tend to compensate each other, but that in 

 pathological conditions one or the other may predominate. The author attributes 

 diabetes to excess of alkali and pellagra to excess of acid. 



The diagnosis of acidosis, J. J. II. ]\Iaco:od (Jour. Lab. and Clin. Med., 4 

 (1919), No. 6, pp. 315-329). — This is a review and criticism of the methods at 

 present in use for diagnosing acidosis, with many references to the literature 

 on the subject. 



A further demonstration of the part played by accessory food factors in 

 the etiology of rickets, E. Mella>'by (Jour. PIii/.^iioL, 52 (1919), No. 5. pp. 

 LI II, LIT). — This is a brief report of feeding experiments with puppies to 

 show the part played by diet in producing and preventing rickets. The standard 

 diet, which is said to produce rickets within six weeks, consisted of separated 

 milk (175 to 350 cc), TO per cent wheat bread ad libitum, linseed oil (5 to 

 10 cc), yeast (5 to 10 gm.), orange or lemon juice 3 cc, and sodium chlorid 

 2 gm. The effect of various additions to this diet was as follows: 



Lean meat (10 gm. a day) delayed but did not prevent rickets, the extent 

 of the delay depending on the initial weight and rate of growth of the animal. 

 An increase in the separated milk to 350 or 400 cc. did not prevent rickets, thus 

 excluding the possibility that the calcium intake was deficient. The addition 

 of 10 gm. of butter or cod liver oil completely prevented rickets, but the sub- 

 stitution of 10 gm. of cottonseed oil, olive oil, or babassu oil for the linseed oil of 

 the basal diet did not prevent the disease. 



All vegetable oils were not equally ineffective in preventing rickets. The oils 

 tested in order of increasing merit were linseed, babassu, cottonseed, peanut, 

 and olive. A hydrogenated fat tested was similar to linseed oil. Suet and 

 lard appeared to be effective if a small amount of meat was also eaten. 



