1919] ANIMAL PRODUCTIOIT. 671 



fuller's earth activated by malt wort, and by the phosphotungstlc acid pre- 

 cipitate of the vitamins from activated fuller's earth. No increase in growth 

 was produced by hydrolyzed casein or by the extract of fat-soluble vitamin 

 from egg yolk. These results indicate the identity of the substance necessary 

 for the growth of yeast with the water-soluble vitamin. 



Further light is thrown on the properties of the water-soluble vitamin by 

 some of the experiments reported. It was found that the growth-promoting 

 substance obtained from an alcohoUc extract of dried yeast was partially 

 destroyed by heating under 15 lbs. pressure for 30 minutes. The fuller's earth 

 preparation, as well as the alcoholic extracts of yeast and wheat germ, was 

 found to be quite stable in alkaline solution, thus confirming the observations 

 of R. R. Williams and Seidell (E. S. R., 36, p. 314). The material, when acted 

 on by acid or alkali, appeared to be changed (presumably by hydrolysis) to a 

 form more immediately available for the yeast. A previous exhaustive extrac- 

 tion of the substance with dry ether is thought to render the alcoholic extract 

 obtained afterwards more labile to alkali. This would seem to offer a partial 

 explanation for the divergence of results in stability of the vitamin toward 

 alkali as reported by various observers. 



It is the opinion of the author that the method employed in this investigation 

 may be valuable both as a qualitative and ultimately as a quantitative test for 

 the water-soluble vitamin. The advantages in its use are that extremely small 

 amounts of material may be used, and that the vitamin may be detected in 

 the course of only 4 or 5 hours. 



The connection between food regime and illness, L. B. Mendel (Bui. Soc. 

 Sci. Hyg. Aliment., 7 (1919), No. 4> PP- 194-198). — A popular discussion of vita- 

 mins and deficiency diseases. 



ANIMAL PRODTTCTION. 



Live stock and reconstruction, G. M. Rommel (U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 

 1918, pp. 289-302). — Live-stock statistics of the United Kingdom and of France 

 before and during the European War are tabulated and discussed. Pigs and 

 sheep were reduced considerably in numbers, but apparently only the sheep 

 situation was causing uneasiness. Very little pure-bred stock has been sacri- 

 ficed because of feed shortage. The autlior anticipates no extensive importa- 

 tions of breeding stock, except perhaps horses, from the United States or from 

 any other country. The function of American live-stock interests during the 

 reconstruction period will be to furnish Europe with meat and dairy products, 

 so that European farmers can devote their energies to increasing the number 

 of breeding animals from the supply at hand. 



Cattle raising and the meat industry in southern Brazil, R. Porchat 

 (Proc. 2. Pan Amer. Sci. Cong., 1915-16, vol. S, pp. 59i-596).— Statistical infor- 

 mation on cattle raising and packing-house industries in the southern States 

 of Brazil are presented. 



French live stock after three years of war, A. MASsfi (Le Troupeau FranQais 

 apr^s Trois Ans de Guerre. Paris: Min. Agr., 1918, pp. 287). — This is a report 

 to the Minister of Agriculture, dated October 1, 1917, of the live-stock situa- 

 tion in France. Tables present the numbers of bulls, steers, cows, calves, rams, 

 ewes, wethers, lambs, boars, sows, and young pigs in the country as a whole on 

 December 31, 1913, on December 31, 1914, and semiannually thereafter through 

 June 30, 1917. Similar data for less frequent intervals are given for each of 

 the 87 departments. The means taken to conserve live stock in war time are 

 briefly explained. 



149863°— 20 6 



