CONCERNING LOW PROTEIN DIETARIES 131 



were in hard training before the change of diet occurred, it is 

 open to doubt whether the loss of weight is to be regarded as of 

 little consequence in estimating the ultimate effects of a low 

 protein dietary. This is the very condition most evident in the 

 races of India, whose dietary for generations and centuries has 

 been deficient in absorbable protein ; the body weight is very low, 

 in spite of the diet containing considerable amounts of carbon- 

 aceous matter and being of great caloric value. The great 

 deficiency is met with in the muscular and protoplasmic tissues ; 

 nothing could be more remarkable than the miserable condition 

 of the musculature of those races whose dietary permits of a 

 protein metabolism complying with the standard laid down by 

 Chittenden as sufficient to meet the nitrogenous requirements of 

 the body. We believe and the facts as met with on a large 

 scale in India warrant our belief that, while it may be possible 

 for the average man or athlete to carry on for a time without any 

 very striking ill-effects on a low protein dietary, sooner or later 

 a breakdown will come, for which, doubtless, there may be the 

 most plausible non-dietetic explanations to offer, but which, in 

 truth, is the outcome of existence on a protein intake insufficient 

 to maintain the body in a high state of efficiency. 



The conclusions Chittenden draws from the work done on these 

 eight athletes and, indeed, the same applies to his soldier group 

 also would be more convincing if the results had been con- 

 trolled, or even if there had been comparative tests with a similar 

 set of athletes on a liberal protein dietary. There must be records 

 of similar tests made in the progress of athletic training during 

 previous years, and it seems a pity, if such exist, that they have 

 not been made use of as a standard of comparison. 



There is no doubt, however, that the reports on these men, 

 while on the restricted diet, show marked increase in strength 

 and skill in carrying out the tests. Considering the great interest 

 taken in intercollegiate contests, it is all the more remarkable, 

 if such marked benefit followed so rapidly on this dietetic altera- 

 tion, that similar changes have not been insisted on by trainers 

 and willingly accepted by athletes, not only at Yale, but all over 

 the world. Nothing of the kind has occurred. It is generally 

 believed that even the men, who are reported to have benefited 

 so greatly from the new ideas on the protein requirements, 

 returned at once to their former diet as soon as the experiment 

 was discontinued. 



We may conclude the examination of Chittenden's three classes 



