94 



Influence of Inanition on Metabolism. 



Balance of Energy. 

 Uceoo-nizing that the energy derived was from body material rather than 

 from food (for it is commonly assumed that the protein, fats, and carbo- 

 hydrates of our diet must first be transformed into body fluid or body tissue 

 before they are oxidized), an energy balance may be obtained. In accordance 

 with this assumption it is proper to compare the heat production with the total 

 heat of combustion of body materials oxidized (making allowance for the 

 incomplete oxidation of protein) in food experiments exactly as in experi- 

 ments without food. Such a comparison is given in table 53. The total heat 

 production when compared with the total computed heat resulting from the 

 katabolism of body material shows an agreement which is in the main very 

 satisfactory. 



Table 53. Comparison of energy derived from katabolized body material with total 

 heat production Metabolism experiment No. 70. 



Relations between Oxygen Consumption, Carbon Dioxide Elimination, and Heat 



Production. 



The computation of the ratios between the respiratory gases and the heat 

 production is made precisely as in a fasting experiment. The results are given 

 in table 54. The agreements between the different periods are reasonably 

 close with the exception of the abnormally low quotient 0.565 ( !) found in 

 the fifth period of the second day. No adequate explanation of this discrepancy 

 has as yet appeared. 



EFFECT OF INGESTION OF FOOD. 



Having considered the katabolism of body material, it is next proper to 

 consider to what extent the food supplied the materials and energy for restoring 

 the material and energy lost. 



Diet. Recognizing that a simple diet is advantageous in breaking a pro- 

 longed fast, the diet in this experiment consisted of milk, together with a 



