NUTRITION LABORATORY, 187 



carbon accurately in the urine, it would be feasible to dispense with the some- 

 what elaborate determination of the heat of combustion of the urine which is 

 possible only in laboratories provided with a calorimetric bomb. 



To this end, therefore, an investigation has been started to determine the 

 carbon in the urine in a relatively simple way. Prof. Charlotte Bragg, of 

 Wellesley College, has been occupied the past winter in making some prelimi- 

 nary tests upon the possibility of determining carbon in urine more accurately 

 than has hitherto been possible. In the conduct of the experiments due re- 

 gard has been paid to the possibility of volatilization of the material of carbo- 

 naceous nature in pathological samples. The investigation is still in progress 

 and the results are accordingly not ready for publication. 



METABOLISM IN DIABETES. 



The most important single investigation that the Laboratory has under- 

 taken during the past winter has been that of the study of the influence of 

 diabetes on metabolism. Stimulated by the presence of Dr. Falta, of Vienna, 

 and by the enthusiastic cooperation of Dr. Joslin, we have been able to carry 

 on an extended series of investigations into the total metabolism of a num- 

 ber of diabetic patients. The larger number of experiments have been made 

 with the most severe cases of diabetes, although certain experiments were 

 made with cases of varying degrees of intensity. 



Of great importance has been the study of the fundamental normal metab- 

 olism of diabetics. It is contended by some that diabetics require much more 

 energy per kilo of body-weight than do normal individuals, and the establish- 

 ment of the fundamental point as to the energy transformation of diabetics 

 was the first problem to be undertaken. It would be entirely out of place 

 here to discuss the results, particularly as the statements of results of inves- 

 tigations on pathological subjects are so prone to misinterpretation. Suffice it 

 to say that the results so far obtained have proven of decided assistance in 

 the treatment of the several cases which have been investigated. While no 

 startling results are looked for, it is very certain that the continuation of this 

 research will ultimately result in a much more fundamental knowledge of this 

 disease than has heretofore been possible. 



INFLUENCE or PREGNANCY ON METABOLISM. 



The importance of a more fundamental knowledge of the metabolic pro- 

 cesses during pregnancy has long been recognized. The difficulties incidental 

 to such studies have precluded thus far successful experiments on this point. 

 Thanks to the kind cooperation of Dr. Charles M. Green, of the Boston 

 Lying-in Hospital, and Dr. J. T. Williams, who has personally been actively 

 interested in the research. Dr. Murlin and Mr. Carpenter were able to se- 

 cure patients for a series of experiments. The superintendent of the New 



