ANIMAL PEODUCTION. 269 



lowest possible level of nitrogen metabolism by long continued rtarch foeding. 

 Fat feeding may produce a considerable elimination of Croatia. The total 

 creatinin (creatinin+creatin) may be greatly increased without a correspond- 

 ing rise in the total nitrogen output. The possibility of the acid or basic 

 character of the ration having an influence on the creatin production is sug- 

 gested." 



III. The infiuerwe of 'benzoic acid on the endogenous nitrogen metabolism 

 (pp. 321-325). — "A considerable amount of the nitrogen which appears in the 

 form of urea in pigs reduced to the endogenous level of protein metabolism may 

 be converted into glycocoll when benzoic acid is fed for the purpose of hippuric 

 acid synthesis. When the quantity of benzoic acid ingested is not excessive, 

 there is no noticeable rise in the total nitrogen excreted over that which is 

 eliminated on the same diet without benzoic acid. 



" When the quantity of benzoic acid ingested is very large, there is a marked 

 increase in the output of total nitrogen catabolized. The urea nitrogen can 

 not be reduced to a lower level than about 20 per cent of the total. No change 

 in the creatinin outpi.L is observed when the protein catabolism is stimulated 

 by excessive doses of benzoic acid. Endogenous protein metabolism appears 

 to consist of at least 2 types. One can be stimulated greatly for ammonia pro- 

 duction by the introduction of mineral acids, or for hippuric acid when benzoic 

 acid is introduced ; the other, measured by creatinin, remains unaffected by the 

 methods we have described." 



Value of potatoeL- as the basal feed for swine, F. Lehmann (Jour. Landw., 

 61 {1913), No. S, pp. 361-397, pis. 2).— Four lots of 12 weeks' old pigs weighing 

 approximately 20 kg. each were fed during a period of 22 weeks a basal ration 

 of gram feed, fish meal, and chalk. In addition, lot 1 received during the 

 period approximately 171 kg. of corn; lot 2, 671 kg. potatoes; lot 3, 717 kg. 

 potatoes and 4.78 kg. rye chaff fed during the first 8 weeks of the experiment; 

 and lot 4, 63 kg. potatoes, 36.5 kg. rye chaff, and 8.8 kg. meat meal, the meat 

 meal being fed during the last 14 weeks of feeding. 



The average daily gain per pig of lot 1 was 0.552 kg. (1.2 lbs.), with a total 

 net profit at the close of the experiment of 10.68 marks ($2.54) ; lot 2, 0.496 kg., 

 net profit 6.91 marks; lot 3, 0.553 kg., net profit 14.11 marks; and lot 4, 0.553 

 kg., net profit 14.84 marks. From this it is concluded that a basal ration of 

 potatoes supplemented with prepared feeds and balanced with a protein feed 

 as meat meal is profitable. 



The electro-cardiogram of the horse, J. Noee {Ztschr. Biol., 61 (1913), No. 

 J^, pp. 197-229, pi. 1, figs. ^5). — This is a description of a specially prepared 

 apparatus which when in contact with various parts of the body of the horse 

 registers graphically the comparative duration and intensity of the heart's 

 movements. There are included charts showing the heart action of the horse 

 as determined by a number of trials. 



On the variations in the growth of the exterior of the grade horse of East 

 Prussia, W. Voltz {Landw. Jahrb., U {1913), No. 3, pp. 409-436, pi. 1, figs. 2).— 

 Measurements and comparisons were made of the various bones of the limbs, 

 head, breast, back, and general exterior of foals at one-half, 1*, and 2^ years 

 of age, and the relative growth during these ages determined. Complete tabular 

 data are given showing the measurements and percentages of growth at these 

 ages. 



Heredity studies in the royal stud at Trakehnen, B. Schmidt (Arb. Deut. 

 Gesell. Ziichtungsk., 1913, No. 16, pp. X+36S+XVI, pis. 22).— Parts 1 and 2 of 

 this volume treat in detail of the improvement of some of the permanent 

 Trakehnen stud strains by various methods of inbreeding. Part 3 deals with 



