344 Influence of Inanition on Metabolism. 



comfort to the subject which might produce abnormal results. Consequently, 

 during the series of 2-day experiments Nos. 79 to 89, warm water enemata 

 were given before the experiments, which resulted in completely removing the 

 contents of the lower bowel so that in but one instance (experiment No. 82) 

 were feces passed during the fasting period. 



The influence of the character of the diet taken by different subjects is 

 probably considerable. For while the majority of the subjects of these experi- 

 ments did not defecate after food was withheld, S. A. B., on the other hand, 

 passed feces, in some fasting experiments at least, with considerable regularity. 

 This subject commonly consumed rather large quantities of fresh and dried 

 fruits, nuts, milk, eggs, and bread, as is seen by the menus given on pages 277 

 to 288. From the character of the feces obtained during the nitrogen metab- 

 olism experiments, it is seen that ordinarily he passed relatively large quantities 

 of feces. This is to be expected from the nature of the diet consumed. Hence, 

 in the fasting experiments made with this subject, it is not at all surprising 

 that in some instances at least we find defecation more or less regular on the 

 first days of the fast. It is difficult to explain the fact that feces were passed 

 only once during the 7-day fast on this assumption, unless it be that on the 

 day preceding the fast the subject did not partake of his usual amount of 

 food. 34 



Making due allowance, then, for the bulky nature of the diet, the influence 

 of inanition in retarding the time of defecation as observed in these experiments 

 is in accord with the observations made in connection with the experiments on 

 Jacques (3) and Succi (4). 



In all of the experiments made in this laboratory the attempt has been made 

 to recognize and separate any fecal matter that could properly be considered 

 lasting feces. Having due regard for the possibility of the irritating action 

 of solid material of any kind on the intestinal wall, lampblack has been used 

 m all cases in attempting the separations. 



With short fasting experiments such as those previously made in this 

 laboratory and reported elsewhere, 85 the separation of feces was impossible. 

 Indeed, even in experiments with food and with wide alterations in the nature 

 of the diet between periods, it is a difficult matter to separate the feces from 

 a 1 or 2-day experiment. "When it is considered that if we accept Mueller's 

 view that the total dry matter of feces during fasting is 3 grams per day, 

 corresponding to a total weight of fresh feces of 12 grams, it is seen that the 

 separation of fasting feces for one day is practically impossible. With the 

 beginning of the series of experiments in which the fasts were to last more 

 than 2 days, it was hoped that some positive evidence regarding the fasting 

 feces could be obtained. With the single exception of fasting experiment 



4 The large nitrogen excretion on this day (p. 367) is opposed to this view. 

 35 U. S. Dept. Agr., Office of Expt. Sta. Bui. 136. 



