in THE THEOKY OF HUMAN NUTKITION 105 



nutrition lays special stress not on the nitrogenous equilibrium 

 attained, but on the stability \of this equilibrium for the space of 

 nine months. This is a very different matter and one of much 

 greater practical and theoretical value. Our critic further objects 

 that when Chitteuden gave his subjects a larger quantity of 

 protein than could be accounted for from the nitrogen of the 

 urine, there was a retention of nitrogen which did not take place 

 when the quantity of protein was smaller. I fail to see the force 

 of this argument against Chittenden's doctrine. He does not 

 deny that when a change is made from a reduced to a lavish diet 

 there is a storage not only of non-nitrogenous reserve materials, 

 glycogen and fats, but also of nitrogenous reserves, disseminated 

 more or less throughout the tissues, he merely questions whether 

 an excess of these reserves is necessary and beneficial or rather 

 injurious to the physiological economy of an adult man engaged 

 in muscular and mental work. 



Our critic goes on to say that Chittenden's diet is not practical, 

 since so many of the persons subjected to the experiment gave it 

 up. We have already had occasion to note that this fact cannot 

 detract from the value of the excellent results obtained in all 

 those who had, like Chittenden himself, the courage to persevere 

 with the reduced diet and to adopt it definitely as the physiological 

 normal of their lives ; it merely proves how deeply rooted our 

 alimentary habits have become, how reluctant we are to correct 

 them, and how weak is the will of many when it is a question of 

 bearing the temporary discomforts attendant on the formation of 

 new habits. 



The good example of the wise, the proof of the good results 

 obtained, the advice of well-known doctors and philanthropists 

 will do much to spread the new teaching and induce people to 

 adopt it. 



Our critic adds that the effects of the reduced diet are too 

 slow to be noticed experimentally; the remote effects of the 

 reduced intake of protein escape Chittenden's observation. We 

 may say in answer to this argument that if the immediate effects 

 of the reduced diet are advantageous from every point of view, 

 there is no reason for supposing the remote effects to be harmful. 

 On the contrary, if we remember that with ordinary alimentary 

 habits, we are obliged with advancing years and the growing 

 infirmities of old age to moderate our diet gradually in proportion 

 to the diminished activity of the digestive apparatus, it is only 

 logical to suppose that the forces of the organism will remain 

 longer unchanged when they have been already economised by a 

 temperate diet. 



Our critic distinguishes " the absolute minimum balance of 

 nitrogen compatible with human life from the practical minimum 

 balance which allows the individual the full exercise of the 



