General Physical Condition. 



525 



An examination of the figures shows that the digestibility of both protein 

 and energy was much greater the first week than in the three following periods 

 of the first experiment. This might imply a more thorough absorption of 

 food during this first week, but owing to changes in the diet, the food for the 

 different weeks was not strictly comparable, though still remaining in most 

 cases mainly a milk, fruit, and vegetable diet. An examination of the kinds 

 and amounts of food consumed (see pp. 277 to 288) shows that there was a 

 tendency to diminish the amounts of cream consumed. The most marked 

 change in the diet was due to the fact that a large amount of peanut butter 

 was consumed during the first week, but much less in the weeks which followed. 



In the second experiment the digestibility during both weeks is practically 

 the same. The per cent of protein digested averages somewhat more than in 

 the first nitrogen metabolism experiment but the absorption of energy in both 

 is practically the same, i. e., about 90 per cent. 



It would appear, then, that there is no definite information furnished regard- 

 ing the influence of inanition on the digestibility of food and it is clear that 

 experiments on a plan markedly different from that here employed are neces- 

 sary to study the problem satisfactorily. 



INFLUENCE ON GENERAL PHYSICAL CONDITION. 



None of the subjects of these experiments showed any symptoms of an 

 alarming nature as a result of inanition (see p. 334), but there was in all cases 

 a daily loss of body-weight, and in general a decrease in pulse rate, respiration 

 rate, and muscular strength. The influence of the subsequent ingestion of 

 food on these grosser functions is of importance. 



Body-weight. In table 247 are given the body-weights of the subjects for 

 the food experiments which continued inside the respiration chamber. 



Table 247. Body-weights in metabolism experiments with food. 



