16 STORRS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
nutrients — protein, fats, carbohydrates, etc. —but also upon 
the amounts of those nutrients which can be actually digested 
and used by the body for its nourishment. ‘The Station is con- 
ducting a series of experiments upon the digestibility and 
nutritive value of ordinary food materials in order to get light 
upon this latter factor—that of the nutritive value. 
A considerable number of such experiments have been made 
in Europe, and recently this line of investigation has been 
taken up to a considerable extent in this country. In the 
Report of this Station for 1896 twelve digestion experiments 
were given in detail, and several more are included in the 
present Report. 
Fuel Values of Foods and Feeding Stuffs.—Another factor of 
the value of food for nourishment is what may be called the — 
fuel value, z. ¢., the amount of potential energy in the food 
which the body can transform into heat, muscular power, or 
other forms of energy needed for its use. An apparatus 
employed for the study of this subject, and known as the 
bomb calorimeter, has been developed, and accounts of its use 
have appeared in the Reports of the Station. 
STUDIES OF CHEMICAL METHODS. 
In connection with the routine chemical work called for in 
the analyses of foods and feeding stuffs, in digestion experi- 
ments, and in the experimental research with the respiration 
calorimeter, considerable attention has been given to the study 
of the methods of chemical and physical inquiry involved. 
Such of the results as are of general scientific interest will, it 
is expected, be published in due time. 
INDEX. 
Besides the index which accompanies each Annual Report 
an index of the first five volumes was appended to the fifth 
volume. In like manner an index of the first ten volumes is 
planned for the present volume. 
W. O. ATWATER, 
Dtrector. 
