FOOD NEEDED BY MAN UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS. 477 



bers, or 52 per kilo. It follows from the experiments just men- 

 tioned that an adult may be sufficiently nourished with a consider- 

 ably smaller quantity of proteids than VOIT considers necessary, if 

 the total food corresponds to the demands of the body in calories, 

 which may be accomplished by a corresponding increase in the ad- 

 ministration of non-nitrogenized nutritive bodies. 



If we keep in mind that the food of people of different coun- 

 tries varies greatly, and that the individual also takes essentially 

 different nourishment according to the external conditions of liv- 

 ing and the influence of climate, it is not remarkable that a person 

 accustomed to a mixed diet cannot exist for a long time on a strictly 

 vegetable diet deficient in proteids, even though not especially 

 difficult to digest. No one doubts the ability of man to adapt 

 himself to a heterogeneously-composed diet when this is not too dif- 

 ficult of digestion and is sufficient; but this ability does not seem 

 sufficient reason for essentially altering the figures suggested by 

 VOIT. VOIT'S figures are based on comprehensive experiments, also- 

 on experience and exact knowledge of the actual existing condi- 

 tions, and they are, which is especially important, as above stated, 

 only given for certain cases or certain classes of people. It is not 

 denied by any one that these results are not applicable to all cases, 

 as it is evident that the daily ration necessary for a laborer given 

 by VOIT must be altered somewhat for other countries because of 

 the existing conditions in middle Europe, where VOIT made his in- 

 vestigations. With regard to the conditions in Sweden we may 

 propose as the daily diet of a laboring man about 120 grms. pro- 

 teids, 100 grms. fat, and 400-450 grms. carbohydrates. Thes^ 

 figures are based on the experience obtained in Sweden and cal- 

 culations made by the author. 



If we compare the figures of Table XIX with the average figures 

 proposed by VOIT for the daily diet of a laborer, it would seem at 

 the first glance as if the consumed food in certain cases was con- 

 siderably in excess of the need, while in other cases, as for instance 

 for the seamstress in London, it was entirely insufficient. A posi- 

 tive conclusion cannot, therefore, be drawn if we do not know the 

 weight of the 'body as well as the labor performed by the person, 

 and also the conditions of living. It is certainly true that the 

 amount of nutriment required by the body is not directly propor- 



