100 PHYSIOLOGY CHAP. 



small quantity of food much greater enjoyment than can be 

 afforded by the best spread table." 



It is easy to see that the functional disturbances which made 

 the insurance companies refuse to guarantee Fletcher a long life 

 were due to obesity. The cure, consisting as it did in a reduced 

 amount of nourishment, was therefore extremely rational, and it 

 was only natural -that he should derive great benefit from it. It 

 would be interesting to know what phenomena accompanied the 

 abrupt transition from an abundant to an economical diet ? Was 

 a long and gradual training required ? What was the curve of 

 the loss in weight of his body ? At the expense of what substances 

 was this reduction effected ? Was there at first a daily loss of 

 nitrogen, gradually diminishing until a new state of equilibrium 

 between the intake and output was attained ? 



We have no data which would enable us to answer these 

 questions. The question of most importance is whether the 

 balance of nitrogen became permanent and fairly elastic in 

 Fletcher after several years of his alimentary regimen, or whether 

 it remained variable, and led from time to time to slight losses of 

 nitrogen. The experiments made by Chittenden on Fletcher did 

 not last long enough to afford a conclusive solution of this 

 problem. In order to reach such a definite conclusion fresh 

 experiments on numerous individuals of varied types were 

 necessary, such experiments to be carried on for a considerable 

 length of time. The most recent studies of Chittenden, of which 

 we shall next treat, had this end in view. 



Fletcher, having read this chapter on human nutrition in the 

 first edition of my book, wrote to me from London on 3rd July 

 1912, and the following extract from his letter seems to me to be 

 worth reproducing : 



" You may like to know that for twelve years after Sir Michael 

 Forster had interested himself in the subject of my nutrition, I 

 have succeeded in maintaining nitrogenous equilibrium for con- 

 siderable periods on not more than 30 grms. of protein per day, 

 derived from potatoes only, seasoned with butter and margarine, 

 so as to supply the requisite calories, my weight remaining from 

 76-77 kilos. 



" During these twelve years, from my fifty-first to my sixty- 

 third year, I have led a very active life, having nothing to com- 

 plain of but constipation, which I have, however, succeeded in 

 getting rid of more and more. During the last two years I have 

 had the opportunity of working with Dr. Hindhede of Copenhagen 

 in order to determine the effects of the introduction of single 

 articles of food (potatoes, bread, etc.) with the addition of nothing 

 but fat, for periods of 40 and 150 days. The results of these 

 special investigations, however, have not yet been published." 



IV. The results of Chittenden's new researches upon the effects 



