FOODS HUMAN NUTEITION. 765 



total number of rations served in common laborers' kitchens was 781,746, which 

 cost 22.66 cts. for food, and 4.63 cts. for expense. The average daily attendance 

 during June, 1910, in the kitchens was 1,496 ; in the messes, 3,178 ; and in the 

 line hotels, 1,915. 



[Using average values for the composition of foods as purchased, it has been 

 calculated that the European laborers' messes would supply 201 gm. protein and 

 5,428 calories energy per person per day, and the common laborers' kitchens 

 148 gm. protein and 4,6S0 calories energy. The amounts actually eaten were not 

 calculated, as no data regarding the waste and refuse were available.] 



Increased expenditures of poor families in the German Empire {Erhe- 

 hungcii von Wirtschaftsrechnungcn minderhemitteUer Familicn im Deutschen 

 Reich, bearheitet im EaiserUch Statistischen Amte, Aiteilung fur Arbeiterstatis- 

 tik. Berlin, 1009, pp. 77+229; Reichs ArheitsU., 7 {1909), Spec. No. 2; abs. in 

 Hyg. Rundschau, 20 (1910), No. 15, pp. 8^S, 8-)9).— Statistical data regarding 

 expenditures of working men's families are summarized. Considering 852 fami- 

 lies, the expenditure for food and condiments was 45.6 per cent of the total. 



Growth and nutrition, H. Aron {Biocliem. Ztschr., 30 (1910), No. 3-/f, pp. 

 207-226). — From his experiments the author concludes that the force which he 

 calls " growth tendency " is more noticeable in the skeleton than in other parts 

 of the body. If an animal fasts the skeleton grows at the expense of the rest of 

 the body, the fatty tissues being used iirst, and the other organs later, since the 

 more important organs are also the more resistant. In his opinion the force 

 which induces growth is resident in the skeletal framework, the muscular tissue 

 possessing apparently no specific " growth tendency," but, perhaps owing to 

 mechanical forces, following the skeleton in its growth provided the nutrition 

 is sufBcient to permit it. 



Experimental data are discussed with reference to the relative development 

 of the subjects (dogs) and to some extent with reference to the general problem 

 of animal feeding. 



Concerning' the nutrition of fish, A. LiPSCHiJTz (Ztschr. Allg. Physiol., 12 

 (1911), No. li-2, pp. 59-117). — Experimental studies which include the measure- 

 ment of oxygen consumed are reported and discussed. 



The metabolism of fish during fasting, A. Lipschijtz (Ztschr. Allg. Phy- 

 siol., 12 (1911), No. 1-2, pp. 118-12^). — Experimental studies are reported. 

 When asparagin, glucosamin, and grape sugar were dissolved in the water in 

 which carp were kept, these organic substances were not utilized as food, and 

 the general conclusion is drawn that such dissolved organic compounds can not 

 be utilized. 



Fasting studies.— I, Nitrogen partition and physiological resistance as 

 influenced by repeated fasting, P. E. Howe and P. B. Hawk (Jour. Amer. 

 Chem. Soc, 33 (1911), No. 2, pp. 215-25.'/, dgm. 1). — The investigation which 

 was made included 2 fasting periods separated by a period during which the 

 subject (a dog) was carefully fed. 



Quotations from the authors' summary follow : 



"A consideration of the summation of the nitrogen balances [reported] shows 

 that there is a minimum amount of nitrogen which must be present in the 

 body in order that life shall exist. . . . 



"Assuming the accuracy of the theory that the urinary creatin represents 

 disintegrated muscular tissue and calculating accordingly, a discrepancy exists 

 between the calculated mass of muscular tissue lost, when considered from the 

 standpoint of total nitrogen and creatin nitrogen respectively. When all the 

 facts in this connection are taken into consideration it is apparent that over 

 50 per cent of the total nitrogen had a source other than the muscular tissue. 



