CONCERNING LOW PROTEIN DIETARIES 



127 



comparison of the figures for the different gaols. By taking the 

 batches on the same diet in the individual gaols, we get strictly 

 comparable results, and it will be evident how very similar the 

 amounts of protein lost in the faeces are by different individuals 

 when under the same dietetic conditions. Many similar results 

 might be quoted to corroborate the finding of other experimenters, 

 and to show that practically identical quantities of protein are 

 absorbed by different individuals from the same diet, even when 

 dealing with the highly vegetable dietaries of the tropics. 



Another important point made evident from a scrutiny of 

 Chittenden's figures is that the highest and lowest degree of 

 protein absorption is not shown by the same individuals in the 

 different periods. Thus, for example, take the case of No. 9 : 

 this man during the first period, with an intake of 49-06 grammes 

 of nitrogen, loses only 445 grammes in the faeces ; in the second 

 period, with an intake of 66-48 grammes of nitrogen, he loses 13-46 

 grammes in the faeces ; whilst in the third period, with an intake 

 of 42-45 grammes of nitrogen (considerably less than during the 

 first period), he loses 9-42 grammes in the faeces ; i.e., contrasted 

 with the first period, this man, with 6-6 grammes of nitrogen less 

 in his diet, actually loses over twice as much of its nitrogen in 

 the faeces. This means a protein absorption during the first 

 period of 91 per cent., and during the third barely 78 per cent. 

 Similarly, reference to the figures for Nos. 1, 4, 7, 9, 10, and 11 

 will show that there was a greater loss of nitrogen in the faeces 

 during the third period, with an intake of 43 grammes, than 

 during the first period with 49 grammes. 



Comparison of the results given for the first and second periods, 

 and for the second and third periods, show very great irregu- 

 larities also. Thus, as a last example, we may take the figures 

 for No. 2 : with an intake of 49 grammes of nitrogen, he loses 



