980 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



posed of flat, circular steel grinders, grooved in such a manner that they a(i'f)ni]>lish 

 the decortication of the kernel and its granulation into meal at the .same time. 

 These grinders are movable but do not touch, so that instead of crushing the wheat 

 and producing a flour in which the starch only is retained, the outer and harder \h>i- 

 tion of the wheat, containing gluten and other nutritive properties, is retained in 

 the flour. The bran alone is expelled." The l)read is made almost entirely by 

 machinery. 



Banana flour {Didet. and Hyg. Gaz., 16 {1900), No. 8, p. 466).— \ lir'u'f note on 

 tlie value of banana flour. 



On an apocynaceous plant yielding- large edible tubers, R. T. B.\ker {Proc. 

 LIriii. Sac. Xcir Soiitli Wale.% 24 {1S99), pt. .3, No. 95, pp. 385-889, pis. 2, fig. 1).—A. 

 description is given of Parsonia paddisoni, a glabrous woody climber, producing edible 

 tubers, and an analysis of the tubers reported. These are known in Australia as 

 "native yams" and are eaten by both colonists and aboriginals. In taste, both raw 

 and cooked, they are said to resemble turnipn. 



The nutritive value of desiccated vegetables, M. E. Jaffa {California Sta. 

 Rpt. 1898, pp. 154-157) . — The composition of .samples of different sorts of evaporated 

 potatoes and a sample of evaporated carrots, is reported. The author discusses the 

 food value of this class of goods, and compares the C-alifornia evaporated potatoes 

 with the products of Eastern manufacture. 



Examination of canned fruits, G. E. Colby ( California Sta. Rpt. 1898, pp. 157- 

 159). — The amount of cane fruit and grajie sugar in samples of canned apricots is 

 reported. 



Investigations of canned products, E. W. Hilgard and G. E. Colby {Califor- 

 nia Sta. Rpt. 1898, pp. 159-164, dgm. 1). — An examination of spoiled canned asparagus 

 showed that those cans which were not what is technically known as "swells" owed 

 their high acidity to the fluid u.sed in soldering the cans. Zinc and lead were also 

 found, the former being present in the fluid used in soldering and the latter dissolved 

 by the acid present. Experiments were made on the influence of heating upon the 

 liquor of canned asparagus, containing various amounts of soldering fluid. On pro- 

 longed heating the acidity of the canned contents increased materially. "This is 

 doubtless to be accounted for by the transformation of the characteristic crystal- 

 lizable ingredient of asparagus, asparagin, into aspartic acid, by the action of the zinc 

 chlorid [of the soldering fluid]." Analyses show that a not inconsiderable amount 

 of tin accompanied the zinc and usually traces of lead salts. Tests are also reported 

 on the comparative effect of dilute hydrochloric acid upon sheet tin of two kinds. 

 The authors recommend improvements in methods of soldering cans and point out 

 the need of sufficient sterilization. 



Poisonous effects of eating meat, P. B. Rasmi'ssen {Maanedns^kr. Dryhvger, 12 

 {1900), No. 9, pp. 329-364). — This article contains a report on investigations of a 

 large number of cases of poisoning which occurred in consequence of eating fresh 

 meat or meat in the form of sausage and other preimrations. The author discusses 

 the pathological changes in the meat of animals affected with various disea.ses, and 

 the dangers of using such meat for food. Among the diseases thus considered may 

 be mentioned various fever conditions, septic;emia, and osteomyelitis. Brief notes 

 are given on the bacteria which were found associated with poisonous meats. 



The relation of ethyl alcohol to the nutrition of the animal body, W. S. 

 Hall {DietH. and Hyg. (iaz., 16 {1900) , No. 8, pp. 453-461).— This abstract of a j)aper 

 presented at the fifty-first annual meeting of the American Medical Association, iield 

 at Atlantic City, N. J., June, 1900, is reprinted from the .Joiini(d of tlw American Medi- 

 cal A.'isociation. A controversial article. 



Influence of alcohol on the lacteal secretion {JUdcl. ninl II jig. (ktz., 16 {1900), 

 No. 7, pp. 405, 406). — A sunnnury of some recent work. 



