368 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED, 



They were found to be very resistant to the action of animal and vegetable 

 enzyms. Experiments showed that galactans were not affected by the ordinary 

 aerobic bacteria of the alimentary tract, or by mixtures of soil and fecal 

 aerobes, of soil and fecal anaerobes, or of powerful putrefactive organisms 

 such as Bacillus anthracis symptomatici and B. vialigni aedemaPis. Pentosans, 

 maunans, and levulans were found to be gradually decomposed by soil and 

 fecal bacteria and by putrefactive anaerobes, sometimes with the formation of 

 reducing substances. 



" When introduced parenterally, either subcutaneously or intravenously, they 

 are not i-etained or altered by the organism, but are gradually excreted in the 

 urine. Feeding experiments on dogs and human subjects show that those 

 hemicelluloses most readily attacked by bacteria disappear most completely from 

 the alimentary tract. Galactans, which are unaffected to any appreciable extent, 

 are excreted in amounts averaging 75 per cent; pentosans and manuans, hydrol- 

 yzed by bacteria, disappear almost entirely during the processes of digestion. 



" It is manifestly impossible to treat of the digestibility of hemicelluloses as 

 a class; each group must be studied separately, and distinctions made also 

 between soluble and insoluble forms. 



" The experiments give little justification for considering these carbohydrates 

 as typical nutrients for man." 



The influence of cooking upon the tryptic dig'estion of milk, H. Stassano 

 and J. Talarico {Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol. [Paris], 69 {1910), No. 28, pp. 251- 

 253). — Artificial digestion experiments are reported with milk cooked for differ- 

 ent lengths of time at 100° C. 



The digestibility was at first considerably increased and then again decreased 

 to about the value observed with raw milk. Similar ranges were noted with 

 samples cooked at higher and lower temperatures as compared with 100°. For 

 earlier work see a previous note (E. S. R., 23, p. 374). 



The influence of sour milk on metabolism, V. Harley {Brit. Med. Jour., 

 1910, No. 2603, pp. 15S8-L593). — Experiments are reported in which sour milk 

 was added to a simple diet. Food, urine, and feces were analyzed. 



According to the authors conclusions, the amount of aromatic sulphates in 

 the urine was decreased a little and the feces tended to become neutral or acid 

 in reaction. Api)arently, there was a decrease in intestinal putrefaction when 

 sour milk was taken, but the analytical data reported show that small quan- 

 tities of sour milk added to an ordinary diet do not seem to bring about any 

 improved absorption of the food. 



The paper is followed by a discussion. 



The limitations of curdled milk therapy, A. Bryck (Brit. Med. .Tour., 1910, 

 No. 2603, pp. 1586-1588) . — From his summary of data the author draws some 

 deductions of general interest. 



" It is absolutely certain," he states, " that there is no indication for the 

 indiscriminate and widespread use of curdled milk as a therapeutic agency. 

 If the practice of moderation in eating be the keynote of the whole life, if a 

 daily alvine evacuation be the rule — and this is by no means the prerogative 

 of vegetarians — then we can afford to despise the much advertised ravages of 

 the putrefactive organisms in the colon." 



The metabolism of some purin compounds in the rabbit, dog, pig, and man. 

 L. B. Mendel and J. F. Lyman {Jour. Biol. Chem., 8 {1910), No. 2, pp. 115- 

 H3). — Experiments with men and animals are reported. 



In the experiments with man hypoxanthin nitrate, xanthin, guaniu, and 

 adenin were added on different days to a purin-free diet. According to the 

 authors, the examination of the urine showed that all four purins produced a 

 marked rise in urinary uric acid and a small, yet noticeable increase in the 



