266 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



well as general information, was prepared esi)ecially for the committee on foods 

 and feeding of the Child Welfare f:xhihit, New Yorl<, 1911. 



Experim.ents on the effects of anim^al protein on vegetarians, P. Albertoni 

 and F. Rossi (Arch. Expt. Path. u. PharmakoL, 6.'t {1911), No. 5-6, pp. 

 43D-^oo). — Continuing experiments previously reported (E. S. R., 20, p. 965), 

 the authors carried on tests in which meat (at first 100 gm. and later 200 gm.) 

 and eggs (at first two and later four) were added to the daily food of persons 

 accustomed to a strict vegetarian diet. In the experiments with meat, the usual 

 diet supplied on an average, in round numbers, 75 gm. protein per day, the diet 

 with a small amount of meat 98 gm., and that with a larger amount 118 gm., 

 the energy values being, in round numbers, 3.035, 3,283, and 3,331 calories, re- 

 spectively. In the experiments with eggs, the usual diet supplied, in round 

 numbers, 67 gm. protein, the diet with two eggs 79 gm., and that with four 

 eggs 83 gm., the energy values being 2.G86, 3,060, and 2,899 calories, respectively. 

 The balance of income and outgo of nitrogen and phosphorus was determined 

 and dynamometer tests were made. 



The authors state that the addition of animal food to the diet influenced 

 favorably the work of the intestines and led to a gain in nitrogen and to gains 

 in body weight. The individuals also gained in strength and in the hemoglobin 

 content of the blood. These results, like those obtained in their earlier experi- 

 ments, they attribute to the increased protein metabolism, and especially to the 

 addition of animal protein to the diet. 



In their general discussion they point out that many persons undoubtedly eat 

 too much and others too little. On the whole, they believe that while it is pos- 

 sible to maintain life on from 40 to 50 gm. protein a day, yet they do not think 

 that on such a diet man is in better condition for the production of energy, and 

 they consider that an abundance of protein, especially of animal origin, has a 

 favorable efiiect. 



Discussion on food requirements for sustenance and work, C. H. Melville 

 {Brit. Med. Jour., 1910, No. 2600, pp. 1337-13Jfl).—i:he test reported was made 

 with 20 infantry soldiers from 18 to 38 years of age and weighing on an 

 average 64.15 kg. On six consecutive days they marched on an average from 

 12 to 13 miles, carrying a load of 54 lbs. (24.55 kg.). Then after a day's rest 

 the marching was continued for five more days. 



According to the author's calculations, the work was equivalent to 1,034 

 calories per day, or to approximately 90 calories per mile of ordinary road. 

 He estimates further that the internal muscular work and the external muscular 

 work during nonmarching hours were equivalent to 3,000 calories, which would 

 make the total work 4,0.34 calories per day. 



The food consisted of bread, meat, potatoes, jam, and sugar, with tea, condi- 

 ments, etc. During the first week the diet supplied 190 gm. protein and 3,426 

 calories per man per day, and during the remainder of the time 145 gm. protein 

 and 3,503 calories. The average for the whole period was 168 gm. protein, 84 

 gm. fat,. and 480 gm. carbohydrates i^er day, the energy A'alue being 3,481 calories. 



During the first three days of the test there was an average gain of 0..55 kg. 

 in weight, followed by a period of two days during which the weight remained 

 stationary. After this, with the exception of a slight rise on the day following 

 the day of rest, the weight diminished steadily until the end of the experiment, 

 the average decrease being 1 kg. for the whole period. The officers accom- 

 panying the party were restricted in their diet in the same way as the men, and 

 similar changes were noticed in their body weight. The increase in weight at 

 the beginning of the period is due, in the authoi-'s opinion, to retention of water 

 in the system, In discussing changes in body weight, the author calculates 



