PHYSIOLOGICAL ECONOMY IN NUTRITION. 



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excretion of uric acid, ethereal sulphates, phosphoric acid, etc., but 

 they need not be discussed here. 



The main things to be noted in these results are, first, that the 

 total daily consumption of proteid amounted on an average to only 

 45 grams, and that the fat and carbohydrate were taken in quantities 

 only sufficient to bring the total fuel value of the daily food up to a 

 little more than 1,600 large calories. If, however, we eliminate the 

 first day, when for some reason the subject took an unusually small 

 amount of food, these figures are increased somewhat, but they are 

 ridiculously low compared with the ordinarily accepted dietary stand- 

 ards. When we recall that the Voit standard demands at least 118 

 grams of proteid and a total fuel value of 3,000 large calories daily, 

 we appreciate at once the full significance of the above figures. But 

 it may be asked, was this diet at all adequate for the needs of the 

 body — sufficient for a man weighing 165 pounds? In reply, it may 

 be said that the appetite was satisfied and that the subject had full 

 freedom to take more food if he so desired. To give a physiological 

 answer, it may be said that the body-weight remained practically 

 constant throughout the seven days' period, and further, it will be 

 observed by comparing the figures of the table that the nitrogen of 

 the intake and the total nitrogen of the output were not far apart. 

 In other words, there was a close approach to what the physiologist 

 calls nitrogenous equilibrium. In fact, it will be noted that on several 

 days the nitrogen output was slightly less than the nitrogen taken in. 

 We are, therefore, apparently justified in saying that the above diet, 

 simple though it was in variety, and in quantity far below the usually 

 accepted requirement, was quite adequate for the needs of the body. 

 In this connection it may be asked, what were the needs of the body 

 during this seven days' period? This is obviously a very important 

 point. Can a man on such a diet, even though it suffices to keep up 

 body-weight and apparently also physiological equilibrium, do work 

 to any extent? Will there be under such condition a proper degree 

 of fitness for physical work of any kind? In order to ascertain this 



* Average of the four days. 



VOL. XLIII.^9. 



