68 KXPEHIMENT STATION KEl'OKD. 



consitU-rs it ccrlnin that the (•(msnniiilion of |)ciit(>scs incn>as(><l iiitroseii mot- 

 nholisin. 



Concerning- the digestion and utilization of crude fiber and cellulose by- 

 man and animals, II. Loiiuiscu (ZcnthL (Jc.saiii. Plii/.siol. u. Path. Hloffwcclincl.s, 

 II. scr., .* (/.'uy?), \(). i/. pii. S()t-8'22).-'—A critical summary and discussion of 

 the literature of crude fiber and cellulose assimilation, together AA-itli the results 

 of the autlior's own i n vest ijiat ions. 



In experiments in which a man was fed cellulose specially prepared from 

 cabbage it appeared that it was very larsely absorbed in soluble form. Su,i;ar 

 was not formed from it nor did it undergo fermentation. In general, the author 

 believes that the amount of cellulose which a man secures in an ordinary mixed 

 diet is so small and its cleavage value so low that cellulose has practically no 

 value as a feeding stuff for normal man. 



The article includes an extended bibliography. 



The effect of cocoa on metabolism, Gerlach (Osterr. Chem. Ztg., 10 (1907), 

 No. 22, pp. 310, 311). — In a paper presented before the meeting of the German 

 Naturalists and Physicians, September, 1907, the author briefly summarizes the 

 results of experiments sliowing that the use of cocoa, with either large or small 

 amounts of fat. as a iiart of the diet did not diminish thoroughness of digestion 

 in general. 



The mineral matter required by the human body, H. C. Sherman {Lake 

 riacid Coiif. Home Econ. Proc, !l {1901), pp. 11',-I1S). — The results of the 

 author's investigations with iron {11 S. II., 19, p. .58) and similar studies with 

 calcium and phosphorus not yet reported in detail are summarized and discussed 

 with si)ecial reference to the kinds and amounts of mineral matter required by 

 the body. 



From a comparison of the computed amounts of ash constituents supplied l)y 

 20 American dietaries with the results of available metabolism experiments 

 it appears that " the amount of iron runs approximately parallel to the 

 amount of protein and there is usually neither greater nor less likelihood of 

 deficiency of the one than of the other. In the case of lime, however, the 

 variations between the different dietaries were much greater, and in nearly half 

 of the cases the diet appeared to furnish less lime than was required for the 

 maintenance of equilibrium in many of the metabolism experiments. In the 

 case of phosphorus, nearly one-third of the dietaries appeared to be deficient 

 when judged by the same standard. From this it would appear that in the 

 selection of food and the planning of dietaries, at least as much attention should 

 be paid to the amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and iron as to the amount of 

 protein. In many cases the dietary may readily be improved with respect to 

 the ash constituents by a substitution of milk or cheese for a part of the meat 

 and a freer use of fruits and vegetables in place of a part of the sugar and 

 starch." 



Estimation of water vapor by means of the Jaquet respiration apparatus, 

 K. Staehelin {VoIkdkU. Natnrf. GescU. Basel, 19 {1901), No. 1, pp. 100-108).— 

 The data reported show that the Jaquet respiration apparatus (E. S. R., IG, p.' 

 2S7) gives accurate results in experiments with men and animals. 



Report of progress in food and nutrition, 1906-7, C. F. Langworthy {Lake 

 Plaeid Conf. Home Eeoti. Proc, 9 {1901), pp. 10I{-112). — A brief survey of the 

 nutrition investigations carried on during the year 1906-7, particularly those 

 conducted under the auspices of the Office of Experiment Stations. 



