REPORT OF EXHCUTIVH COMMITTEE. I31 



(3) Experiments on metabolism during fasting. These have 

 already been made with two different men during periods of two 

 and three days, and have brought interesting results. We are now 

 endeavoring to find a person who can comfortably endure a much 

 longer period of fasting and who will serve as a proper subject for 

 a systematic series of experiments. 



The apparatus and method are proving verj' satisfactory for these 

 inquiries. As is natural in the development of a new apparatus and 

 method, difficulties arise from time to time and means are constantly 

 being suggested for improvement. 



By invitation, a description of the apparatus in its present form 

 was given by Dr. Atwater at the late meetings of the British Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Science in Cambridge, England, and 

 of the International Physiological Congress in Brussels, Belgium, in 

 August and September of 1904. These descriptions were illustrated 

 by a small brochure, which gives summaries of the results of two 

 experiments, including a final balance sheet of income and outgo of 

 material and energy. It is of interest to note that these are the first 

 instances in which a complete and accurate balance of this character 

 has been made by actual. experiment. 



A detailed description of the apparatus in its present form, with 

 experiments sufficient to illustrate the method of its use, is now being 

 prepared for publication by the Carnegie Institution. 



Russell H. Chittenden, Sheffield Scientific School of Yale Univer- 

 sity, New Haven, Conn. Grant No, 197. For a study of the 

 minimal proteid requirement of the healthy 7nan. $1,500. 



Abstract of Report. — The grant made for the study of this problem 

 has been used in connection with grants from other sources for the 

 experimental study of the possibilities of physiological economy in 

 nutrition, with special reference to the proteid foods. The experi- 

 ments have been conducted on three distinct tj^pes or classes of indi- 

 viduals : (i) A group of fiv^e men, of varying ages, connected with 

 the university as professors and instructors — representatives of the 

 mental worker rather than the physical worker ; (2) a detail of 

 thirteen men, volunteers from the Hospital Corps of the United States 

 Army and representatives of the moderate worker ; (3) a group of 

 eight young men, students in the university, all thoroughly trained 

 athletes, and some with exceptional records in athletic events. 



In the conduct of the experiments it was recognized that while 

 previous experimenters have shown the possibility of maintaining 



