FOODS HUMAN NUTRITION. 69 



irr<'hf<('Is. n. .s'cc. 5 iltHO). No. .t /». .''.s'). The Muthor stutlicd tlie niiiiiiiuuii 

 iiitroKCii requireiiient with a coiisidi'val)!*' iuiinl)(>r of foods. 



In exporinients with iiotatoes, witli wheat Hour, and witli nulk (human), each 

 used as the sole article of diet, the niininmni reiiuirenient of nitrojien was 

 fonnd to vary and to be higher than in fasting. In general, the nuninunn 

 requirement was higher the more nitrogen the food supplied. If, however, 

 owing to a large supply of carbohydrate, the nitrogen was not needed as a 

 source of energy, equilibrium was reached with a smaller quantity of nitrogen. 

 Nitrogenous material in wheat flour, potatoes, and milk is used in different 

 degree to meet the proteid requirements of the body. In other words, nitrogen 

 minimum varies not only with the composition of the diet and the proportion 

 of protein, carbohydrate, and fat. but also with the source of protein. 



Additional experiments were made in which other foodstuffs were tested in 

 rations which contained an abundance of carbohydrate. In the case of a fish, 

 a milk, and a rice diet, the nitrogen excretion was only slightly increased and 

 was increased most with wheat flour and corn meal. Under proper condi- 

 tions, the nitrogen excretion was smaller on a meat diet than on a nitrogen- 

 free diet. 



The biological value of nitrogen from different sources is discussed at length 

 and the results expressed numerically. 



Protein requirement and a veg'etarian diet, K. Tiio>i.\s {Unischdii, L) 

 {1910), A'o. .'/, PI). 67-70). — The investigations, noted above from another source, 

 are discussed particularly wnth reference to general dietetics. 



On the basis of these investigations the author calculates the amount of body 

 ]iroteid which 100 gm. of food ready to serve would replace, the values being 

 23.1 gm. for beef ; 18.4 gm. for crabs ; 16.4 gm. for fish ; 2.1 to 6.2 gm., according 

 to its water content, for peas porridge or puree; 3.1 gm. for milk and bread; 

 2.1 gm. for spinach; 1.9 gm. for rice and noodles; 1.6 gm. for potatoes; 1.4 gm. 

 for cooked cauliflower; 1.1 gm. for corn meal; and 0.5 gm. for cherries. The 

 animal foods are better utilized by the body than the vegetable foods. Atten- 

 tion is especially directed to the high value of fish flesh. 



According to the author, a vegetarian diet, which generally implies low 

 protein, would ordinarily suffice for an agricultural population owing to the 

 character of the work performed, but the question is raised as to whether such 

 a diet would be rational. For an urban population he believes that animal 

 foods are desirable. In his summary, the author notes that when the diet is 

 not entirely adequate loss in body weight results, and since the protein require- 

 ment is ])roportional to the body weight, the amount retiuired under such con- 

 ditions would be lowered and the body could more readily meet its needs with 

 strictly vegetarian diet. However, he believes that under such circumstances 

 the resistance to infectious diseases would be lowered. 



Experiments on the comparative value of animal and vegetable food and 

 on the minimuni proteid requirement, P. Albkrtoni and F. Rossi (Arch. Ital. 

 Biol., 51 {11)09), p. 385; ah.s. in. Zcntbl. Gesam. PJii/.nol. u. Path. Staff lOcchxHs, 

 n. ser., 5 {1!U0), Nn. 3, pp. 113, ll'i). — The investigations reported have been 

 noted from a sunniiary i)ublished elsewhere (E. S. R., 20, p. 965). 



Phosphorus metabolism in man, ("). IIoi.sti {UkaiuL Arch. Phi/Miol.,23 {1910). 

 .Vo. S-.'i, pp. 11(3-153). — In general, the author concludes fi'om experiments on 

 the income and outgo of iihosphorus, calcium, and magnesium that phosphorus 

 is excreted regularly in the urine and feces and that differences noted when 

 phosphates are fed are not constant and characteristic. On the other hand, 

 |)hosphorus added to the diet exercised a marked effect on calcium, only 7 or 

 8 per cent being excreted in the urine as compared with 20 to 28 per cent in 

 a ration without added phosphate. Presumably, the greater part of the cal- 



