On the proper Balance of the Food in Nutrition. 129 



Were we then to give them carrots, in which 1 part nitroge- 

 nous is contained tor every 7*84 parts of non-nitrogenous con- 

 stituents, the proportion would not be materially ilisturbed; 

 but were we to give them potatoes (1 : 9), we disturb the pro- 

 portion somewhat more. It is therefore expedient to feed 

 them with a substance which is richer in nitrogen ; this proper 

 proportion may be obtained with exactness by mixing 1 nutri- 

 tious equivalent of red clover with 3 nutritious equivalents of 

 potatoes : — 



1x1:6 =1: 6 



3x1 :9-00 = 3:27 



4:33 or 1 : 8*25. 



To produce this mixture, we feed them by giving them 

 9'7lbs. of dried clover for every 123*6 lbs. of potatoes. 



If we wished to give them the same proportion in white 

 turnips and oat-straw, we must supply for every 2 nutritious 

 e()uivalents of the former 1 nutritious equivalent of the latter ; 

 for this mixture gives the proportion of 1 to 8*4; that is, they 

 must be ie(\ with 130 lbs. of fresh white turnips for every 

 55'55 lbs. of dried oat-straw. 



A horse that works hard requires the proportion of 1 to 4, 

 For this we give him oats which represent that proportion. 

 But if we wished to give him the same proportion in field 

 beans and hay, we must take for every 2 alimentary equiva- 

 lents of the former 1 alimentary equivalent of hay, for such a 

 mixture has the proportion of 1 to 4'1. We ieed liim there- 

 fore with 8"58 lbs. of dry field beans for every 12*47 lbs. of 

 dry hay. 



A man requires for a certain mode of life the proportion o^ 

 1 to 3. He wishes to eat beef and potatoes; he must, there- 

 fore, for every 2 alimentary equivalents of beef eat 1 alimentary 

 equivalent of potatoes, for this mixture gives the proportion 

 of 1 to 3'01 ; he must therefore use for every 2 lbs. of boiled 

 beef (reckoned without water) 41 lbs, of potatoes (reckojned in 

 the fresh state). 



If he wished to produce the proportion of 1 to 4 with car- 

 rots and raw bacon, he will attain it by mixing $ alimentary 

 equivalents of the former with 6 alimentary equivalents of the 

 latter, which represent the proportion of 1 to 3*99. For this 

 purpose he must eat 338 parts of fresh carrots for ievery 11 

 parts of raw bacon (reckoned free from water). 



Concerning the question, as to what is the proper xjuantity 

 of aliment (possessing die due proportions) which is to be 

 given under different circumstances, experience alone can de- 

 termine it. For the computation, how the necessary quantity 



Phil. Mag. S. 3. Vol. 35. No. 234. Aug. 1849. K 



