FOODS— HUMAN NUTETTTON. 63 



Improper feeding of Cardiff children {Brit. Mcil. Join:. 19(11. Xo. 2JfO.'f. pp. 

 226, 227). — A suiuiuary of a paper by Walt'ord in which the conclusion is 

 reached that pupils in the elementary schools in Cardiff. Wales, suffer from 

 improper rather than insufficient food. The importance of a controlled niillc 

 supply and other hygienic features are discussed with reference t > the feeding 

 of school children. 



Experiments on nutrition: balance of income and outgo of nitrogen and 

 sodium chlorid, M. Letulle and Mlle. M. Pompilian (Voiiipt. Rend. Acad. Sci. 

 [Paris]. I'l.] (l!l()6). No. 26, pp. 1188-1191. ^f/.v. 4).— Brief statements are made 

 regarding the experiments on the income and outgo of nitrogen and sodium 

 chlorid made with the respiration calorimeter previously described (E. S. R., 

 18, p. 902). In general, the quantities of both substances eliminated were 

 found to vary with the individual characteristics of the subject, but eiiuilibrium 

 was possible under proper conditions. During fasting the excretion of nitrogen 

 diminishes. When food is taken after fasting the tissues undergo repair. 

 Nitrogen and chlorin equilibrium are reached after oscillations in the excretion. 



The influence of flesh eating on endurance, 1. Fisher {Separate from Yale 

 Med. Jour., 1901. Mar., pp. 16). — Endurance tests were made with flesh eaters 

 and flesh abstainers, which, in the absence of more satisfactory mechanical 

 methods of measurement, included holding the arms horizontally as long as 

 possible, deep knee bending, and leg raising by the subject lying (ui his back. 

 The results re]K)rted. according to the author, "would indicate that the users 

 of low-proteid and the nontlesh dietaries have far greater endurance than those 

 who are accustomed to the ordinary American diet." 



" Of the three groups compared, the large flesh eaters showed far less endur- 

 ance than the abstainers, even when the latter were leading a sedentary life. 

 ... It is possible that the superiorit.v of the al>stainers is due to the absence 

 of flesh foods or to the use of a similar aninnnt of proteid. or to both as well 

 as to the abstention from tea, coffee, and condiments." 



With 14 flesh abstainers the average daily nitrogen excretion ranged from 

 0.00." to O.l.") gm. per kilogram )>ody weight. 



The factors of safety in animal structure and animal economy, S. .1. Melt- 

 ZER {Jour. Amcr. Med. Assoc, 1/8 {1901), No. 8. pp. 655-66.'i; Science, n. ser., 

 25 {1901), No. 639, pp. //8i-498).— Engines, bridges, etc., are ordinarily con- 

 structed so that they possess a strength or capacity in excess of the usual or 

 average demands made upon them, and the author has summarized and discussed 

 a large amount of physiological and other data to determine whether similarly 

 the human bod.v possesses factors of safety, the question as a whole being 

 considered especially in its relation to food requirements and the possible effect 

 of an excess of proteid foods. With the possible exception of the reproductive 

 organs and ner^e gangli;'., t!ie author concludes that the body is well provided 

 with factors of safety. 



" All organs of the body are built on the plan of superabundance of structures 

 and energy. Of the supplies of energy to the animal we see that oxygen is 

 luxuriously supplied. The supply of carbohydrates and fats is apparently 

 large enough even to keep up a steady luxurious surplus. For the supply of 

 proteid we find in the actual conditions of life that man and beast, if they 

 can afford, provide themselves with (luantities which physiological chemists 

 call liberal. This may or may not be the (piantity which nature requires and 

 approves of. Experiments have shown that a number of men subsisted on the 

 half of such quantities. This latter might be an indispensable minimum, just 

 as there is an indis])ensable mininuim for all other luxuriously endowed pro- 

 visions of the animal organism, and the liberal ingestion of proteid might be 



