188 Journal of the Mitchell Society [February 



traces. TJnderhill has shown that tryptophane is the direct 

 precursor of indol or indican in the urine. Furthermore he 

 has demonstrated, experimentally, that the output of indican 

 in the urine falls immediately, when the individual is fed on a 

 tryptophane-free protein exclusively. When the individual 

 was returned to a meat diet, the increase in indol formation 

 promptly appeared. This is suggestive in the treatment of ex- 

 cessive putrefaction cases, where the practice is often to reduce 

 the protein of the diet to a partial starvation basis. Why starve 

 the body cells of all the food constituents of the protein mole- 

 cule when only one is the offender? Why not increase the 

 protein intake with gliadin, gelatine or Zein ? 



In conclusion, each constituent of the diet performs its speci- 

 fic function and must be seriously considered. The carbo- 

 hydrates are necessary. The fats are valuable. The inorganic 

 salts are indispensable ; but the newer advance in chemistry of 

 the diet must come from the proteins. 



