486 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



to study the mechanics of digestion animals were killed and the stomachs frozen, the 

 experimental method being described in full. 



Some of the author's conclusions follow: It was found that the stomach contents 

 was divided into layers, in general the food which was taken last being surrounded 

 by food taken earlier and thus protected for a time from contact with the stomach 

 walls. The left region of the stomach, the so-called fundus (pars splenica), is the 

 storage portion, and food remains here for hours without coming in contact at all with 

 the gastric juice and during this time the amylolytic action of saliva is continued. 



At the same time peptic digestion is going on in the prepyloric and pyloric portions 

 of the stomach, the digestive secretions and muscular contractions being different at 

 different points. In other words, the stomach contents is not at all uniform. 



The secretion of ferments and other questions were also studied and discussed. 



On the products of digestion of the proteolytic spleen enzym acting in an 

 alkaline medium, E. P.Cathcaet {Jour. Physiol., 32 {1905), No. 3-4, pp. 299-304).— 

 Using lieno a-protease of Hedin, the following substances were isolated from the 

 products of digestion of coagulated blood serum: Histidin, inactive arginin, lysin, 

 ty rosin, leucin, alanin, amido- valerianic acid, a-pyrrolidin carboxylic acid, glutamic 

 acid, phenylalanin, and ammonia. Aspartic acid was regarded as probably present, 

 as it is formed in large quantity when fibrin is digested by the same enzym. 



The influence of fasting and feeding upon the respiratory and nitrogenous 

 exchange, M. S. Pembrey and E. I. Spriggs (Jour. Physiol., 31 (1904), Xo. 5, pp. 

 320-345). — The experiments reported were carried on with white rats. 



Some of the conclusions drawn follow: "During fasting the respiratory exchange 

 quickly reaches a minimum, and then remains remarkably constant during the pro- 

 longation of the fast. . . . The effect of food rich in carbohydrates upon the respira- 

 tory exchange is well marked within an hour, and steadily increases during the 

 next 2 or 3 hours. The increase in the output of carbon dioxid varied according to 

 the conditions from 14 to 97 per cent of the minimal discharge during hunger." In 

 the majority of cases there was an increase in the absorption of oxygen which ranged 

 from 9 to 35 per cent. 



"The increase in the discharge of carbon dioxid after a meal rich in carbo- 

 hydrates appears to be due to a general increase in the metabolic processes of the 

 "body, including the formation of fat, and not solely to the work of digestion. . . . 

 A fast preceding a meal serves as a marked stimulus to the assimilation of food. . . . 

 The respiratory quotient is probably the resultant of quotients above and below the 

 theoretical values for the combustion of proteids, carbohydrates, and fats." 



In connection with part of the work an attempt was made to study nitrogen 

 metabolism, but this phase of the work was not continued, as, according to the 

 authors, it was not possible to estimate correctly the percentage composition of the 

 living animal from data obtained by the analysis of a control specimen. 



Concerning the metabolism of athletes, H. Lavonius (Skand. Arch. Physiol., 

 17 (1905), N >. l-.\ />/>. 196-204). — -The studies reported were made with 2 circus 

 performers. 



In the 6 days covered by the investigation the daily diet furnished on an average 

 217.9 gm. protein and 5,070 calories of energy with one of the subjects and 182.2 gm. 

 protein and 4,254 calories of energy with the other. The subjects worked only 2 or 3 

 Injurs each day, but the work was very severe. The body weight in each case was 

 about 84 kilograms. In the 2 cases fat supplied 47.6 and 44.8 per cent, respectively, 

 of the total energy of the diet, quantities which the author considers very unusual. 

 In connection with the investigation the income and outgo of nitrogen were 

 determined. 



The toxin and antitoxin of fatigue, W. W eicjiardt (Milnchen. Med. Wchnschr., 

 51 (1904), Nos. 1, pp. 12, 13; 48, pp. 2121-2126).— The author states that from the 



