191 1] William J. Gies 47 



been considered in the prior study o£ respiration, and the gastro- 

 intestinal excretions having been discussed in connection with the 

 previous observations on feces, further attention (though for the 

 time being only in a general way), is now given to local and 

 general excretion, especially from the skin and kidneys. 



This sequence in the consideration of subjects enables us to 

 proceed easily and logically from a study o£ the typical individual 

 cell, of cells in general, and of the body as a whole, to examinations 

 of specific parts of the organism, i. e., of the groups of specialized 

 cells, the respective tissues and organs. Such examinations devel- 

 op the essential facts regarding tissue structure and composition, 

 as well as the local and general functional relationships of the 

 peculiar tissue constituents. The relative chemical activities and 

 the corresponding nutritive demands of the tissues as specialized 

 parts are duly emphasized, and the way is prepared for final and 

 more detailed considerations of general metabolism, the nature and 

 metabolic significance of the various urinary constituents, and food 

 requirements and selection. 



The laboratory work of this course (5 hours per week for a 

 half year) is extended into every important phase of the general 

 subject. The formal lectures (two weekly), besides correlating the 

 results of the experiments and demonstrations with the essential 

 principles, are devoted to various general themes that cannot be 

 given objective treatment in the time allotted for the course, such 

 as chemical coördinations in the body, the chemical processes 

 in embryonic development and lactation, chemical defenses of 

 the organism against disease, biochemical effects of medicines and 

 other foreign agents, typical biochemical perversions associated 

 with disease, etc. The course is designed to establish fundamen- 

 tal biochemical principles, and to develop capacity and confidence 

 in the Interpretation of biochemical phenomena. 



The prerequisites of such a course as I have just outlined are 

 physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physiology or 

 general biology. It is impossible to understand the scientific and 

 practical aspects of general nutrition and dietetics without the 

 knowledge afforded by such a course in physiological chemistry. 



If my remarks have led you to the conclusion that, in the course 



