FOODS — liLMAN NUTRITION. 767 



iiit'StiuiaMe loss. In corrospoiulonco, It has been learned that Newell has 

 fonnd at Haton Ko>iKe. Lonisiana. that the ants vigorously attack the larvic 

 in the hives and also earry away stored honey. These colonies have, however, 

 been prote«'teil by the use of a stand having four legs, each resting in a dish 

 of water. Mention is made of an ant which the author has observed in Mon- 

 tana to attack an«l cut uit live bees at the hive entrance. 



The silk industry. K. L. Pexafiki. { I'rdcth-as dc I itfliistrin Hedera. Mddrid: 

 lidit., I'.tin. pp. 103, p'ifs. 3S). — In this guide details are given of the raising 

 of silkworms and of silk production. 



FOODS— HUMAN NUTRITION. 



Constituents of the urine and blood and the bearing of the metabolism of 

 Bengalis on the problems of nutrition, I). McC.vy (.sV/. Mon. M<d. <ind s<init. 

 Dr/tls. Iniliti. II. .ST/-., I DOS. .\o. .{}. />/(. (il ) . — This coniitrehensive investigation 

 was undertaken jiarticnlarly to study the relation of the native diet, low in 

 nitrogen and high in nonnitrogenous constituents, to physical condition, body 

 development, health and elticiency in comparison with the diet of Anglo-Indians 

 and Eurasians in India. 



As a part of the investigation, analyses were made on four (U- live consecutive 

 days of the urine of 28 native students and assistants of the higher castes and 

 of l(i natives of other castes, all of these being adult Hindus upon their ordi- 

 nary diet. Observations were al.so made upon the blood of 170 Bengalis, two- 

 1 birds of them students and the remainder of different classes, but all ai)par- 

 cntly in good health and typical of the groups selected. The urine data showed 

 that the average quantity of total nitrogen, urea, uric acid, and sulphates was 

 lower than with Europeans according to the coniparison made. Differences 

 were also noted in the blood. As regards the observed low blood pressure of 

 Itengalis in comi)arison with Europeans, the author believes that it nuist affect 

 their vigor an<l energy. The observed differences in the chenucal composition 

 of the Itlood are ascribed to the use of a diet low in nitrogen, which prevents 

 the nitrogenous tissues from drawing their nutritive material from so rich a 

 source or from obtaining so free a supply of oxygen. 



In the di.scnssion of the daily metabolism of nitrogen it is pointed out that 

 the value of O.llo to 0.111 gm. per kilogram of body weight, which was noted 

 in these studies, is essentially the quantity which is sometimes advocated as 

 sutHcient. Since this quantity represents the amount suiiplied by the usual diet 

 of tliese native Indians, it confirms the conclusion that the body may be main- 

 tained in lutrogen e(piilibrium for a long time on a diet furnishing about one- 

 lliird of that supjilied by the commoidy a<-cei»t«Hl dietary stamlards. From 

 data sununarized as to the body weight, height, and chest circumference of 

 ;;liout l.',."»(Mi Hengali students, however, the author concludes that the I'.eiigalis 

 "do not reach the same standard of g<'neral physicpie as is attained by races of 

 l'an'np<>an origin: and yet froni the evidence we can find no cause iidierent In 

 the Hengali as a rac«' for this deficiency: on the contrary, we consider that 

 there may be a very close relationship between the lower physical devi'loimient 

 of this iK'ople and the meager itroteid constituent of the diet on which they 



HMl)Sist." 



Studies are reixtrled iu detail of the nitrogen balance of 2 students living 

 for 4 days on a diet consisting largely of rice and legumes. With the total 



<• jiutetl intake 'M.H4 and 42.24 gm. nitrogen, resiwctively. there wer»> gains 



of ().,S<» and ()..'il gm. The nitrogen of the feces was very large, constituting 

 from 2.'{..s<; to 2."».42 i»er cent of that ingested. .\ similar .set of inve.sttgations 

 followed ou 4 healthy prisoners for 35 days at Lard labor on a diet lu which 



