Nutrition Investigations. 



303 



The few feeding experiments made with animals do not sustain the 

 claims made for the value of Cetraria as a foodstuff. Brown (334) 

 found only 1.25-0.7 per cent glycogen in the livers of rabbits after 

 Cetraria feeding, but these results are not very satisfactory, since the 

 rabbits would not eat it very well. An old experiment by von Mering 

 (351), in which 16 grams Hchenin were fed to each of two rabbits, 

 shows 0.56-0.63 grams of glycogen in the liver, but Miura (313) has 

 pointed out that his glycogen estimates were probably too high. Saiki 

 (346) fed Cetraria extract, containing 2 per cent dry matter, in por- 

 tions of 292 cc. and 300 cc. on two successive days, to a meat-fed dog. 

 The faeces of the feeding period were marked off at the beginning of 

 the Cetraria diet by fine quartz, and at the end by cork. Their com- 

 position is shown in the following table: 



The Cetraria extract contained 6.3 grams carbohydrate estimated 

 as dextrose, the faeces 5.1 grams. 



Feeding experiments on man, in which the intake and output of 

 carbohydrate have been carefully determined by direct analysis of 

 the carbohydrate as dextrose, have recently been conducted in Pro- 

 fessor Mendel's laboratory. The data have not yet been pubHshed in 

 detail, but from a preHminary description given by Mendel (340) 

 is taken the following report of one experiment*: 



FAECES. 



Weight Air Dry, 



I. Fore period = 3 days 



Cetraria period = 3 days 



II. Fore period = 2 days 



Fore period = daily 



Cetraria period = 1 day 



After period = 2 days 



* From unpubllahed experiments by Dr. V. 

 cal Chemistry. 



Grams. 



35 

 146 



34 

 53 



29 



CARBOHYDRATE. 



As Dectrose. 



Grams. 

 2.1 



38.0 



6 



6 



24 



Percent, 

 1 



56 



4 



2 



13 



CETRARIA TED. 



80 g. = 56g. 

 as dextrose 



20g. = 14ig 

 as dextrose 



C. Meyers, Sheffield Laboratory of Physlologi- 



