662 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.41 



The etiology of sprue, pellagra, and scurvy, L. Nicholls {Jour. Trap. Med. 

 and Hyg. [London'], 22 (1919), No. 3, pp. 21-2Jt, figs. 2). — The author compares 

 sprue, pellagra, and scurvy on the theory that the predispo.suig causes of 

 all three diseases are dietary deficiency and pathogenic organisms. The lat- 

 ter is thought to be the predominant factor in .sprue and the former in scurvy, 

 while in pellagra both are thought to be fairly evenly balanced. A strep- 

 tococcus is considered to be the infecting agent in sprue and very probably in 

 scurvy, but the possibility is suggested of some other class of organism being 

 the secondary factor in pellagra. The theories advanced are discussed in 

 detail with several references to the literature. 



The scurvy of guinea pigs, III. — The effect of age, heat, and reaction on 

 antiscorbutic foods, A. F. Hess and L. J. Ungee {Jour. Biol. Chem., 38 {1919), 

 No. 2, pp. 293-303, pi. 1, figs. 8). — A preliminary report of this study has been 

 previously noted from another source (E. S. R., 41, p. 2G6). In addition to the 

 investigations reported in the earlier contribution, the factor of freshness 

 and age of the vegetables was found to affect their antiscorbutic properties 

 on dehydration. The author points out that this variable factor renders it 

 very difficult to prepare a table of the comparative antiscorbutic value of 

 various foods, and that when this is attempted all the vegetables should be 

 uniform in their development and freshness. The importance for the de- 

 hydrating industry of using only fresh young vegetables is emphasized. 



Bemarks on the pathogenesis of deficiency diseases and on pellagra, P. 

 RoNDONi {Brit. Med. Jour., No. SOU {1919), pp. 5^2-5^).— The author reports 

 observations on " maidism," the pathological condition induced in guinea 

 pigs by exclusive maize feeding, and compares his results and conclusions 

 with those of McCarrison (E. S. R., 41, p. 264) on the changes in the organs 

 of polyneuritic pigeons. The histological observations reported in the present 

 paper are summarized as follows : 



" The organs which are the most affected in guinea pigs fed on maize are 

 the spleen, the thyroid, and the suprarenal glands. The spleen shows sclerotic 

 lesions with increase of elastic and fibrous tissue and reduction of lymphocytes 

 in the folliculi. The thyroid shows, in the first days of maize diet, hyperemia 

 and often proliferation of alveolar epithelium, then hemorrhagic changes and 

 later on sclerosis are prominent." 



Certain resemblances are pointed out between the etiologj' and patho- 

 genicity of maidism in guinea pigs and pellagra in man, but the author is of 

 the opinion that maidism has certain features which differentiate it from 

 pellagra as well as frfmi simple starvation and scurvy. 



Dietetic helps in diabetes, R. R. Donk {Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc, 13 {1919), 

 No. 1, pp. 25-27, fig. 1). — Tables are given from which can be calculated the 

 combinations of various foods necessary to make up any prescribed diet in 

 the treatment of diabetes. These include values for the 5 per cent group of 

 vegetables and the various increases (potato, bread, broth, fish, egg, fat, lean 

 meat, etc.) calculated in protein, fat, carbohydrates, and calories. 



Analysis of normal Filipino urine, I, Concepcion {Philippine Jour. ScL, 

 Sect. A, 13 {1918), No. 6, pp. 347-359). — An extensive investigation is reported 

 of the constituents of Filipino urine. The subjects consisted of Bilibid prison- 

 ers, hospital servants, laboratory helpers, and medical students. All were 

 allowed to choose their diet except the prisoners, who were on a special ration. 

 The urine analyses were made on the 24-hour samples collected from 3 to 7 

 consecutive days. The analytical results are presented in tabular form by occu- 

 pational groups, dnd a table is also given showing the average chemical compo- 



