A NORMAL DIET 



419 



An account of his experiments was published by Erismann in the Zeit- 

 schrift fur Biologie in 1891. Notwithstanding this readily available ac- 

 count, many of these substances and many others were used in Germany 

 during the war, some with very disagreeable consequences. Only two 

 suitable substances appear to have been found. Blood obtained from slaugh- 

 terhouses was, in this manner, made directly available as a food for man. 

 Finely milled bran was also found useful. The addition of either of these 

 made the bread less palatable than it formerly was. (Neumann(d) 1916.) 



What is "Normal" Weight? Such losses of weight as were observed 

 in Germany and by Benedict and his associates in this country must be re- 

 garded as pathological but it is probable that if the reduction in the diet 

 had not been quite so marked the loss in weight would have been much less. 

 Benedict's subjects at an average weight of 66 kilos, were accustomed to a 

 diet furnishing 3097 calories. A diet furnishing 1967 calories main- 

 tained them at about 59 kilos, indicating a loss in weight of 1 kilo for every 

 reduction of 160 calories in the diet. If they had reduced the energy con- 

 tent of their food by 320 calories, or approximately 10 per cent, they 

 would probably eventually have lost almost two kilos. If they had in- 

 creased it by this amount, they would probably have gained about the same 

 amount and would then have maintained themselves at this new level of 

 metabolism and of weight. Which of these, *2777, 3097 or 3417 calories 

 is the "normal" ? That question cannot be answered until we know more 

 definitely what is the "normal" weight for these men, 64, 66, or 68 kilos. 



Symonds collected and published the height and weight of men and 

 women at different ages as obtained from the records of accepted applicants 

 for life insurance in the United States and Canada. The results are in- 

 cluded in the following tables, the height including shoes and the weight, 

 ordinary clothing. 



TABLE VII. SYMOND'S TABLE OF HEIGHT AND WEIGHT FOR MEN AT DIFFERENT AGES BASED ON 

 74,162 ACCEPTED APPLICANTS FOR LIFE INSURANCE 



