38 Fisher — The Effect of Diet on Endurance. 



W. (]\Iarcli) No definite impression either of gain or loss. 



(June) "On the whole I felt quite as Avorkish as ever I did in 



the spring months and did not feel the hot days as much of 



a drag as usual." 

 As to illness, in the course of the experiment there were the usual 

 winter colds, though apparently these were less common than before. 

 One man had grip for a few days, another the mumps, and several had 

 constipation. In general, the men expressed themselves as better 

 than usual and in some cases they were very enthusiastic. None of 

 the ailments suffered by the men were ascribable to the test itself, 

 unless it be a case of what appeared to be slight rheumatic sensations 

 of T,, who had alwaj^s been a heavy meat-eater, and who during the 

 experiment introduced at first much acid fruit. That the acid in 

 conjunction with the high proteid might occasion such symptoms is 

 at least consistent with some of the numerous theories of rheuma- 

 tism. On avoiding very acid fruits he soon lost all these symptoms. 

 The following extract from the diar}^ of B. is, I think, typical of 

 the facts in this respect to general health : " Have now, March 28, 

 slight sore throat. In regard to colds, I have been troubled less 

 this 3'^ear than at any time for years ; but this fact may be due to 

 great change in climate, Nebraska to Connecticut. Have usually had 

 colds more or less all winter ; therefore my freedom has been indeed 

 remarkable. From September last till the beginning o'f the experi- 

 ment I experienced frequent attacks of indigestion, 'heart-burn.' 

 Have been almost free from that, though two or three times I bad the 

 same experience after eating ba*nanas." 



Sumtnary. 



The phenomena observed during the experiment may be summar- 

 ized as a slight reduction of total food consumed, a large reduction 

 of the proteid element, especially for flesh foods, a lessened excretion 

 of nitrogen, a reduction in the odor, putrefaction, fermentation 

 and quantity of the feces, a slight loss of weight, a slight loss of 

 strength, an enormous increase of physical endurance, a slight 

 increase in mental quickness. These phenomena varied somewhat 

 with diff^erent individuals, the variations corresponding in general to 

 the varying degree in which the men adhered to the rules of the 

 experiment. 



That we are correct in ascribing the results, especially in endur- 

 ance, to dietetic causes alone, cannot reasonably be doubted when it is 

 considered that no other factors of known significance were allowed 



