IIGG KXPKHIMKNT STATION HECOHD. 



Further experiments on the utilization in the animal body of protein 

 cleavage products, E. Abdkkhai.ukn mikI J. (>i.i.N(;ki{ (Zlxrhr. l'lii)siol. ('him., 

 .77 (imtS), \(>. l-,i. jip. l'i~7!i). — Moat i)r()tein clcavaK*' pnuliiots uave satisfac- 

 tory results in feeding experiments with a dofr. ('as(»in cJeavajre jtroduets were 

 Hilt SO SMtisfactoi-y. 



The behavior of carnitin in animal metabolism, 11. Enuklamj (Zlxihr. 

 Lntcnutch. ynlir. u. (Jniiissmll.. Ki (/.'"AS). A o. //. /</>. l)().'i-6tji:) . — In experi- 

 ments with dogs it was found that carnitin was (•uui|)letely broken down in the 

 body. Some of the data reported indicate that carnitin may not be entirely 

 harmless. Experiments with IIerl)ivora (a rabbit) did not lead to conclusive 

 results. 



The dig-estibility of fat in the animal body, III, S. I.,hviTf;s iZt.Hchr. 

 I'ln/.siol. Clniii.. .77 {I'.tOH), So. 1-2. lift. .'/6"-.'/,S). — A note cm the determination of 

 glycerin in feces in connection with the author's work on the digestion of fat 

 (E. S. K.. 20. p. 00.3). 



The functions of the liver in relation to the metabolism of fats, J. B. 

 Leathes {Lancet [London], 1009, I, No. 0, pp. .5.9.i-.5.9.9).— liesults of the 

 author's investigations and the work of other observers are summarized and 

 discussed in this thefjretical consideration of the metabolism of fat. 



The author believes that " it is a fair hypothesis to make the starting point 

 for work that the liver st;inds in a different relation to circulating fat fi. e.. fat 

 absorbed from the intestine and consigned into the systemic circulation! from 

 the other organs of the body. Its work is to take up this fat and bring about 

 certain changes in it [designated desaturation of the acids], the result of 

 which is to make this material available for the use of the organs in which its 

 potential energy is required." Reasons are given for the belief that the change 

 referred to is at any rate in i)art a desaturation of the fatty acids. 



" There is another difference between what may be called organized fat — the 

 fat, that is, in the cells of the heart, muscles, kidneys, etc. — and the imorgan- 

 ized merely stored fat of the adipose tissue. The latter is the unaltered fat 

 of the individual's food; it has its iodin value determined by that of the fat 

 which has been absorbed, but it also contains no phosphorus. The fat in the 

 liver and the other (jrgans of the body, the organized fat, is very largely com- 

 posed of phosphatid lipoid substances. Of these we know more or less dimly 

 of a considerable number, more or less definitely, of one lecithin. ... It has 

 also been repeatedly noted that the fatty acids which can be obtained by 

 saponification of lecithin or other phosphatid lipoid substances are more un- 

 saturated than those from adipose tissue. 



" It may therefore be that the work of the liver consists in the conversion of 

 food fat into organize<l fat and that the desaturatifin of fatty acids is a change 

 which occurs after that conversion has taken jilace; a change that is, there- 

 fore, removed from our ken .so long as our knowledge of the nature and consti- 

 tution of these lipoid molecules is as meagre as it is at present." 



The probable importance of octohydroxy-arachidic acid in the metabolism of 

 fat is discussed. • 



A preliminary note on the examination of fat in the liver in health 

 and disease, E. E. Kexnaway and .7. I*.. Leathks ( Lnnfct [fjondou], IIiOH. I, 

 No. 2, pp. H-j-UH). — IMg. goat, dog. and human liver were included in this study 

 of liver fat. 



Animal fat and the petroleum ether extract of the liver, Y. Nukada ( fiio- 

 chcm. Ztschr., /.} ( HJ08), So. .j-lj, pp. .',l'.)-.'i2'.)). — According to the author about 

 0.4 to 0.7 per cent of the fat of flesh consists of a mixture of the lower water 

 soluble and volatile fatty acids. The amount increases with the length of time 

 the fat is kept. Such fat when fresh contains only small amounts of material 



