874 



METABOLISM. 



We have a very large number of complete investigations upon the 

 diet of people of different vocations in America, but they are too exten- 

 sive to enter into, hence we must refer to the original publications of 



ATWATER. 6 



It is evident that persons of essentially different weight of body 

 who live under unequal external conditions must need essentially dif- 

 ferent food. It is also to be expected (and this is confirmed by the table) 

 that not only the absolute quantity of food consumed by various persons, 

 but also the relative proportion of the various organic nutritive substances, 

 shows considerable variation. Results for the daily need of human 

 beings in general cannot be given. For certain classes, such as soldiers, 

 laborers, etc., results may be given which are valuable for the calculation 

 of the daily rations. 



Based on extensive investigations and a very wide experience, VOIT 

 has proposed the following average quantities for the daily diet of adults: 



Proteins. 

 For men 118 grams 



Fat. 

 56 grams 



Carbod yd rates. Calories. 

 500 grams 2810 



But it should be remarked that these data relate to a man weighing 

 70 to 75 kilos and who was engaged daily for ten hours in not too fatiguing 

 labor. 



1 In regard to the older researches cited in this table we refer the reader to Voit in 

 Hermann's Handbuch, 6, 519. 



2 Ibid., and Zeitschr. f. Biologic, 9. 



3 Armee- und Volksernahrung, Berlin, 1880. 



4 Untersuchung iiber die Ernahrung schwedischer Arbeiter bei frei gewahlter Kost, 

 Stockholm, 1891. Maly's Jahresber., 21. 



5 Cited from Kellner and Mori in Zeitschr. f . Biologic, 25. 



6 Report of the Storrs Agric. expt. Station, Conn., 1891-1895, and 1896, and U. S. 

 Depart, of Agriculture, Bull. 53, 1898. 



