THE PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS OF MANKIND 117 



value, the results showing that the daily excretion of the nitrogen 

 of the urine ranged, over a period of five months for the different 

 individuals, from 0-106 gramme up to 0-150 gramme per kilo of 

 body weight. At the same time there was no great increase in the 

 non-nitrogenous food the fuel value never reaching 3,000 calories. 



The third group consisted of eight students, all trained athletes. 

 The men were under observation for a period of five months. 

 No specific diet was imposed, as in the case of the soldiers of the 

 Army Hospital Corps, but the men willingly cut down the intake 

 of protein food, diminishing likewise in considerable measure 

 the total volume of the food for the twenty-four hours. The 

 results show that on an average this group excreted 8-81 grammes 

 of nitrogen in the urine, as compared with an excretion of from 

 17 to 22 grammes when the men were living on their ordinary 

 diet. Chittenden, again relying on the urinary nitrogen, gives 

 the metabolized nitrogen of these eight students as varying from 

 0-108 to 0-165 gramme per kilo of body weight. The potential 

 energy of the dietaries was not excessive from 2,500 to 3,200 

 calories. It may be taken from the results of observations on 

 these three groups that quantities of 56, 63, and 67 grammes 

 protein in the diets were sufficient to maintain all these men in 

 nitrogenous equilibrium. These quantities only represent 48 to 

 57 per cent, of Voit's standard. 



The following table, compiled by v. Noorden, shows the dif- 

 ferent points brought to light in a manner easily grasped : 



Twenty out of the twenty-six subjects decreased in body 

 weight in amounts varying from 1 to 9-2 kilos, the average loss 

 of weight over the whole period being 2-5 kilos. The loss in 

 weight was probably due largely to a decrease in body fat, but 

 in some of the subjects there was certainly a fair degree of protein 

 loss due to an insufficient amount of food. 



Attempts were made to show that the subjects gained in body 

 strength and in grace and ease in execution of movements. 

 Some of the members of the Hospital Corps improved in health, 



