662 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD, 



food and its preparation in relation to hygiene, home conveniences and related 

 problems, educational work in connection with home economics, and similar 

 questions. Attention is also directed to the fact that this Office has for a long 

 time systematized the collection and dissemination of information regarding the 

 general sul^ject of nutrition. 



The physiology of digestion and nutrition, O. Cohnheim (Die Physiologie 

 (lev Verdauung unci Ei-nahrmuj. Berlin and Vienna; rev. in Brit. Med. Jour., 

 1908, No. 2Jf89, pp. 7'//6, 7//7. — A text-book based on the author's lectures in 

 which nutrition, digestion and related questions are discussed on the basis of 

 the results of recent investigations. 



Food problems, M. Rubneb {Volkserndhrungsfragen. Leipsic, 1908, pp. 1^; 

 rev. in Zciitbl. Phi/sioL, 22 (1908), No. 11, pp. 3.'i9-351). — The questions espe- 

 cially discussed are protein minimum and the economic effects of the diet of 

 the poor. The author points out the distinction between the physiological and 

 the practical protein minimum and gives reasons for his belief in the desirability 

 of a reasonably generous protein standard. 



Appetite from a theoretical and practical standpoint, W. Sternberg 

 (Zentbl. Physiol., 22 (1908), No. 11, pp. 329-335). — From a discussion of various 

 questions concerned with taking food and fasting in man and animals the author 

 concludes that appe^tite can not be explained simply on the basis of secretion 

 of digestive juices nor can aversion to food be explained solely by the lack of 

 such secretion. He believes that appetite is to be regarded as muscular motion 

 or a manifestation of it. 



Concerning work of digestion, E. Heilner {Ztschr. Biol., 50 {1908), No. Jf, 

 pp. -'i88-503). — On the basis of experimental evidence, the author concludes that 

 the term " work of digestion," which has been proposed, is not satisfactory and 

 that " specific dynamic effect of nutrients " is preferable. 



The role of digestive juices in metabolism as shown by data obtained by 

 the polyfistula method, E. S. London {Zentbl. Gcsain. Physiol, u. Path. Stojf- 

 wcehsels, n. ser., 3 {1908), No. IJf, pp. 529-531). — A discussion based on the 

 author's experiments in which he points out that digestive juices are to a 

 large extent resorbed and hence should be taken into consideration in discus- 

 sions of metabolism. 



Metabolism experiments on the protein requirement of the child, H. 

 LuNGWiTZ {Stoffivechselversuche tveber den Eiweissbedarf des Kindes. Berlin 

 and Halle, 1908, pp. 82; rev. in Brit. Med. Jour., 1908, No. 21,89, p. 7.'/7 ) .— In the 

 exi)erimental dietaries protein supplied about 17 per cent of the total energj' 

 and about one-half of the protein was of vegetable origin. With less protein 

 the children lost weight while more was found to be wasteful and often 

 harmful. 



Diminished muscular activity and protein metabolism, P. A. Shaffer 

 {Amer. Jour. Physiol., 22 {1908), No. 4. PP- 445-455). — The experiments re- 

 ported were made with healthy men and according to the author support the 

 belief that " with sufficient food either an increase or a decrease of muscular 

 activity within physiological limits has per se no effect upon the protein 

 metabolism as indicated by the nitrogen and sulphur partitions in the urine. 

 We can not, of course, believe that a long-continued diminished activity would 

 not cause a change in the composition of the urine, because the intensity of 

 metabolic processes in a muscle atrophied from disuse is certainly less than in 

 a healthy muscle ; but such a change in the composition of the urine should be 

 considered not the direct result of decreased activity, but the result of a 

 pathological condition, which, it may be, was brought about by a diminished 

 activity. Exercise is necessary for health, but the amount of muscular energy 

 expended in a given day (provided the amount is not excessive for the particu- 



