70 EXPKKIMKNT STATION RECORD. 



The animal body as a prime motor: Experiments with draft oxen, M. 

 RiNGia.MANxN (Anil. Insf. \<it. A</ioti., .i. .srr., (I (UK)!), No. i. pp. .l'i.i-27!), figs. 

 9). — The author has reported and discussed his experiments with Limousine 

 and d'Aubrac oxen as draft animals. See also a previous note (E. S. R., 17, 

 p. 1(K«). 



Physiology of the blind intestine of Herbivora, W. Ustjanzew (Biochem. 

 ZtNchr.. '/ { IHOl), Ao. .i-.i. pp. I.').'i-ni). — Experiments which were made with 

 rabbits showed that the blind- intestine .should be rej^arded as a specific organ 

 for the dif^estion and resorption of crude tilxn- and pentosans. At least this 

 organ I'xercises a distinct and favorable effect on the digestion of materials con- 

 taining cellulose. 



The value of so-called plant amids in nitrogen metabolism in the animal 

 body, V. Henriques and C. Hansen (Ztschr. PhysUA. Clictn., 5.'f (1907), No, 

 2-3, pp. 169-187). — In the experiments with small animals (rats), which the 

 authors report, asparagin, either alone or in combination with nitrogen-free 

 material, did not prevent a constant loss of nitrogen. Amid substances obtained 

 from S-day-old etiolated sprouts of vetch, maize, and beans could not replace 

 food protein, but exercised, though in small degree, a sparing effect on the 

 daily proteid requirement. "Amids " obtained from potatoes seemed to possess 

 no value as protein sparers nor could beet amids fed with gelatin peptone sat- 

 isfy the body needs for protein. The authors call attention to the fact that 

 their results were obtained with an omnivorous animal and that different 

 results might be expected with Herbivora. 



The substitution of amids for protein, K. Fkiedlaender (Landw. Fers. Stat., 

 67 (1907), Xo. .'?-'/, pp. 28.3-31.^). — The experiments reported were made with 

 sheep. When amid nitrogen in tlie form of beet molasses was added to a 

 ration low in protein the loss t»f body nitrogen was not lessened, although the 

 greater part of the amids contained in molasses are convertible into proteid 

 compounds by the action of bacteria. When asparagin was added to a diet 

 containing low protein it exercised a slight protein-protecting power but was 

 not at all comparable in this respect with a true protein, namely, aleuronat. 



Protein metabolism in dogs. I, Protein metabolism on a low nitrogen diet, 

 E. OsTERBERG aud C. G. L. Wolf (Biochem. Ztschr., 5 (1907), No. 2--'f, pp. 304- 

 343). — Witli the exception of urea an increase w^as noted in all nitrogenous 

 constituents of the urine as compared with total nitrogen on a nitrogen-free 

 diet supplying an abundance of energy. In the case of urea there was a rela- 

 tive decrease in the amount excreted. Doubling the energy value of the diet 

 did not change greatly the proportion of the nitrogenous constituents excreted 

 in the urine. When casein was added to the diet the proportion was materially 

 changed. The absolute quantity of creatiuin excreted remained as before, and 

 the absolute quantity of ammonia increased, while a decrease was noted in the 

 proportional amount as compared with total nitrogen. Sulphur excretion was 

 also studied, nitrogen and sulphur metabolism being found to be parallel. 



Concerning the nature of the urine of young calves, L. Langstein and 

 C. Neuberg (Biochem. Ztschr.,.', (1907), No. 2-3, pp. 2.92-2.08).— When the urine 

 of calves a few days old was analyzed levulose, milk sugar, and allantoin were 

 identihed. The results are discussed with special reference to the origin of the 

 levulose. 



A note on the quantities of marsh gas, hydrogen, and carbon dioxid pro- 

 duced in the alimentary canal of goats, A. E. Boycott and G. C. C. Damant 

 (./our. Physiol., 36 (1907). No. .',-5. pp. 283-287).— The goats used in the experi- 

 ments reported were confined in air-tight steel pressure chambers without ven- 

 tilation and samples of the air were withdrawu ut iutervals tov analysis. It 



