FOODS HUMAN NUTRITION. 671 



ent conditions, and that tlie prescription of a diet, like tlie practice of medicine, 

 is tlierefore an art rather than an exact science. 



Diet of the white man in the Congo, Dryepondt (2. Cong. Internat. Hyg. 

 Aliment., BruxeUes [Proc.'\, 1 (1910), Sect. 2, pp. 66-78). — Many questions 

 which concern the selection and preparation of food, the character of the diet 

 which is desirable, etc., are discussed. The author believes that in tropical 

 regions generous amounts of meat combined with a moderate amount of 

 vegetables should be used, since animal foods require less expenditure of energy 

 for their digestion and assimilation, while, on the other hand, vegetable foods 

 increase a tendency to diarrhea and dysentery. The natives, he states, live on a 

 vegetable diet in times of peace, but use animal foods when engaged in warfare. 

 Similarly, when they are hired to perform fairly severe work for Europeans, it 

 has been found necessary to give them meat. Much information is summarized 

 regarding the character and food qualities of native food materials. 



A campaign ration, J. B. E. Haeffel^ (2. Cong, Internat. Hyg. Aliment., 

 BruxeUes [Proc], 2 (1910), Sect. 7, pp. 38-Jfl). — French army rations are dis- 

 cussed, and suggestions made regarding the use of less bulky rations when on 

 tlie march or in the field. 



Diet in Belgian prisons, H. Vandeputte (2. Cong. Internat. Hyg. Aliment., 

 BruxeUes [Proc.'\, 1 (1910), Sect. 2, pp. 37, 38).— The amount of nitrogen and 

 carbon supplied in central and secondary prisons in Belgium is calculated. 

 Though doubtless adequate, the diets are not regarded as satisfactoiy, owing 

 to their extreme simplicity and monotony. Some method for introducing variety 

 Is advocated, such as possibly the purchase of additional materials at the 

 prison canteen. 



Dietaries in Belgian prisons, F. Dauwe (2. Cong. Internat. Hyg. Aliment., 

 BruxeUes [Proc], 1 (1910), Sect. 2, pp. Ji9-S5). — The winter and summer diet 

 of the central prisoners, according to the author's summary, supply, in round 

 numbers, 138 and 129 gm. protein per day, respectively, with an energy value 

 of 3,390 and 3,320 calories. Similar values for the winter and summer diet of 

 the secondary prisoners are 120 and 111 gm. protein and 3,225 and 3,131 calories. 

 These figures represent food as purchased. Attention is dx'awn to the monot- 

 onous character of the diet, and some suggestions are made for improvement. 



The diet of prisoners, Delmaecel (2. Cong. Internat. Hyg. Aliment., Brux- 

 eUes [Proc], 1 (1910), Sect. 2, pp. 39-Jf8). — ^According to the author's summary, 

 the diet in Belgian central and secondary prisons supplies about 100 gm. protein 

 and from 2,800 to 2,900 calories per day. 



The proportion of wages spent to cover the expenditure of the body dur- 

 ing the performance of a definite amount of mechanical work, A. M. Imbeet 

 (2. Cong. Internat. Hyg. Aliment., BruxeUes [Proc], 1 (1910), Sect. 1, pp. 173, 

 174). — The author concludes that about 1/15 of the daily income (80 cts. in 

 round numbers) was spent for the portion of the food which provided the 

 energy (900 calories) expended in mechanical work performed by the subject 

 under investigation. 



The energy problem in living organisms, G. Fano (2. Cong. Internat. Hyg. 

 Aliment., BruxeUes [Proc], 1 (1910), Sect. 1, pp. 15-17). — ^A critical discussion 

 of body energetics. 



The possibility of increasing the working power of muscles by training, 

 B. Palmen (Skand. Arch. Physiol., 24 (1910), No. 2-4, pp. 168-186, dgms. 3).— 

 The results of an extended study showing the beneficial effects of training are 

 reported, in which the work consisted in raising a weight. 



The effect of different variables upon fatigue, E. Palmen (Skand. Arch. 

 Physiol., 2// (1910), No. 2-4, pp. 197-225, dgms. 5).— The investigations have to 

 do with the work noted above. 



