480 SYMPOSIUM ON FOOD PROBLEMS 



compared save on an absolute quiescent, resting basis. After the 

 metabolism of 200 or more individuals had been carefully measr- 

 ured, it was seen that, although we were dealing with people of 

 varying ages, dietetic habits, and supposedly very low metabolism, 

 no such individuals were easily recognized in our measurements. 

 It would thus appear, offhand, that if there are no individuals other 

 than pathological, which present abnormally low basal metabolism 

 and if the law of conservation of energy in the human body obtains, 

 as we know it does, then there is no a priori reason for expecting 

 that a reduced diet can be permanently adhered to. A reduction in 

 diet will simply mean that body reserves will be drawn upon until 

 death from starvation occurs. 



About a year ago I had the privilege of lunching with Professor 

 Alonzo E. Taylor in Philadelphia, when I received at first hand in- 

 formation regarding some of his important observations in Germany 

 on the dietetic habits of the German civilian population. While 

 there was no quantitative measurement of the food intake of these 

 people, the fact appeared to be established without doubt that the 

 Germans were subsisting upon a very low calorie intake and that 

 this had endured for so long a time since the beginning of the war 

 that it seemed highly probable that the former liberal body reserves 

 no longer supplemented the diet. As a result of this conference a 

 previously formed plan was crystallized into definite action. After 

 conference with my colleagues at the Nutrition Laboratory, an ex- 

 tensive research upon the influence of a prolonged reduction in diet 

 on a group of men was outlined. Obviously much profit was de- 

 rived from the criticisms of the historic research of Professor Chit- 

 tenden with his group of soldiers. Professor Chittenden's problem 

 dealt mainly with the nitrogen intake and output, but when the en- 

 ergy of the diet comes into discussion, it is clear that the dietetic 

 control must be even more rigid and one must, in the last analysis, 

 be wholly dependent upon the personal integrity and veracity of the 

 subjects. If a person ate more protein than was allowed, this would 

 show in the urine; A person could eat considerably more calories 

 than actually allowed and yet no direct chemical control could be 

 secured. 



Through the kind offices of Professors J. H. McCurdy and 



