What the 
figures mean. 
24 ON THE PLACE OF FISH IN 
Hydrogen is nearly as well known as that of Carbon, 
it is usual to sum up the whole intakes as Carbon and 
Nitrogen, and the nearest convenient round numbers 
that can be selected are— 
CARBON. . . 4,900 grains. 
NITROGEN) + & 300 3 
The mere suggestion of speaking to hard-working 
men about grains of Carbon and Nitrogen in food with 
any hope of being understood may perhaps raise a 
smile of half-pity, half-mockery, for it has been known 
to provoke downright derisive laughter. This, how- 
ever, need not prevent some mutual understanding 
about the meaning of these figures, with the possi- 
bility that some may find them of use. It perhaps 
should be explained that— 
In the first place they are not given as the result of 
any one particular experiment on any one particular 
person, doing a particular kind of work. They give 
an approximate average of the results of many ex- 
periments. They are intended to represent the daily 
requirements of a man about thirty, weighing I1 stone, 
and doing moderately hard muscular work. They 
mean the amount of Carbon and of Nitrogen he must 
get out of his food and into his blood. The quantity 
of food he will have to take to obtain this carbon and 
nitrogen depends on the perfection of his digestion 
and the kind of food he takes. The question of the 
kind of food is shown in the tables further on. A 
variation in the amount of work will lead to a varia- 
tion in the amount of Carbon and Nitrogen needed. 
A variation in the power of digestion may necessitate 
a change in the food taken so as to ensure getting 
the Carbon and Nitrogen out of it. 
SC —— 
