MEMOIRS OF THE NATIONAL \< Al >K.MY OF SCIENCES. 



267 



nitrogen metabolism and loss of body protein, but this effect was temporary; (2) thereafter 

 the alcohol protected body protein; (3) tin' alcohol protected fat throughout. 



Experiments with J. /•'. S. With the third subject there was opportunity to observe the 

 immediate effect produced upon nitrogen metabolism by the substitution of alcohol for a part of 

 the ordinary nutrients of the diet. Three series of experiments were made. Each included three 

 periods of '■'< days each. In each series the subject received the same basal ration throughout, 

 but in addition thereto enough of either butter, sugar, or alcohol to furnish about 500 calories. 

 In the first series the subject was at rest, and the order of addition was butter, alcohol, sugar. 

 In the second -cries the subject was at work and received a larger diet, the order being sugar, 

 alcohol, butter. The third series was similar in all respects to the .second except that the order 

 was butter, alcohol, sugar. 



These experiments were thus better adapted than any of those previously discussed to show 

 the immediate effect of the substitution of alcohol for other nutrients in the diet, and in each case 

 it will be seen that this substitution resulted in a loss (or an increased loss) of body protein, 

 which loss continued through the 3 days of the alcohol period. The subject was unused to 

 alcoholic beverages, and from what has already been said such a loss of protein during the first 

 few days of the alcohol diet was to be expected from the results of other similar experiments. 

 Whether this loss would have ceased on continuing the alcohol diet, as seems to have been the case 

 with A. W. S., the experiments do not show. 



Expi rant nts with J. F. S. — ' riii ns and losses of body proti in andfai with and without alcohol. 



Experiments. 



Rest expi nun nts. 



Without alcohol, Nos. 26,28 



With alcohol. No. 27 



Work expt rimt nts. 



Without alcohol, Nos. 29, 31, 32, 34 



With alcohol. Nos. 30, 33 



Averagt of all abovi 



Without alcohol 



With aid ihol 



Total 

 days. 



12 

 6 



IS 



Averages per day. 



In available food. 



Protein. Energy 



Grams. 



92 



92 



95 

 94 



94 

 93 



Calories. 

 2, 253 

 2, 264 



3, 251 

 3, 255 



2. !US 

 2.911 



Gain ( + ) or loss ( — ). 



Protein. 



Grams. 



- 4.0 



- 6.0 



- 6.1 

 -14.5 



5.4 



ii. i; 



Fat. 



Grams. 

 J- 23. 1 



; IS. 2 



-27.5 



-27.7 



-10.6 

 -12.4 



Thus all of the experiments with this subject would indicate clearly that for periods of 3 days 

 the alcohol was inferior to either fat or carbohydrates as a protector of protein. It should be 

 stated, also, that the loss of body protein with the alcohol was greater than the figures in the table 

 would indicate, for the nitrogen elimination of the period preceding the alcohol was in each ease 

 slightly increased by the entrance of the subject into the respiration chamber, while that of the 

 period following the alcohol is increased by the lag in the. excretion of the extra nitrogen 

 metabolized under the influence of the alcohol. The lag would, of course, likewise prevent the 

 effect of the alcohol from becoming fully apparent in the first day of the alcohol period. Hence 

 a better idea of the actual effect of the alcohol would probably be obtained by omitting from 

 consideration the first day of each period. The average elimination of nitrogen thus becomes, 

 in the fore period-. 15.5 grams, in the alcohol periods. 17.1 grams, and in the after period, 15.5 

 grams per day. showing a difference in favor of the ordinary nutrients of 1.6 grams of nitrogen, 

 or lo grains of protein instead of 6.2 gram-, as shown in the preceding table. 



It is also noticeable that the loss of body protein under the influence of alcohol was larger 

 with this subject when at work than when at rest. The difference is not great and may be 



