354 



ON THE PLACE OF FISH IN 



C 4,900. 

 NSOO. 



What the 

 figures mean. 



Hydrogen is nearly as well known as that of Carbon, 

 it is usual to sum up the whole intakes as Carbon and 

 Nitrogen, and the nearest convenient round numbers 

 that can be selected are 



CARBON 

 NITROGEN 



4,900 grains. 

 3 



The mere suggestion of speaking to hard-working 

 men about grains of Carbon and Nitrogen in food with 

 any hope of being understood may perhaps raise a 

 smile of half-pity, half-mockery, for it has been known 

 to provoke downright derisive laughter. This, how- 

 ever, need not prevent some mutual understanding 

 about the meaning of these figures, with the possi- 

 bility that some may find them of use. It perhaps 

 should be explained that 



In the first place they are not given as the result of 

 any one particular experiment on any one particular 

 person, doing a particular kind of work. They give 

 an approximate average of the results of many ex- 

 periments. They are intended to represent the daily 

 requirements of a man about thirty, weighing 1 1 stone, 

 and doing moderately hard muscular work. They 

 mean the amount of Carbon and of Nitrogen he must 

 get out of his food and into his blood. The quantity 

 of food he will have to take to obtain this carbon and 

 nitrogen depends on the perfection of his digestion 

 and the kind of food he takes. The question of the 

 kind of food is shown in the tables further on. A 

 variation in the amount of work will lead to a varia- 

 tion in the amount of Carbon and Nitrogen needed. 

 A variation in the power of digestion may necessitate 

 a change in the food taken so as to ensure getting 

 the Carbon and Nitrogen out of it. 



