DEFINITIONS AND TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS. 369 



that nitrogenous substances during the process of assimilation in the body are 

 transformed into soluble peptones, which find their way into the blood. The 

 protein energy of one gram of (his substance is 4.1 calories or 6.3 foot tons. 

 Feeding experiments with protein appear to show that when used alone it 

 tends to increase the consumption of the protein of the body, and the excess 

 does not appear to help the formation of flesh. This question is still open to 

 discussion. Some well conducted experiments appear to show that when the 

 ration used is a wide nutritive one, the results obtained are more satisfactory; 

 hence the best mode appears to be to combine the protein required with con- 

 siderable carbohydrates. Various substances have important influences on 

 protein consumption. It is now admitted that amides contained in plants can 

 justly claim to be nutrients, and are oxidized just as other feeds are; for ex- 

 ample, asparugin when fed in certain quantities will result in a gain of protein 

 even when forming part of a ration poor in protein. Under these circum- 

 stances it becomes a helper in the formation of tissue. Later experiments show 

 that amides may also take the place, within reasonable limits, of albuminoids. 



"Without doubt sodic chlorid or salt has an important influence on protein 

 consumption; the general circulation of the blood being stimulated through 

 this saline action, there necessarily follow greater wear and tear, and conse- 

 quently a demand upon the existing protein. A fact not to be forgotten is that 

 salt increases the working of the kidneys, and acts in a measure as a diuretic. 

 The flow of urine being greater, there follows a certain thirst, and if this can- 

 not be satisfied, the requisite water will be drawn from the body, under which 

 circumstances there is a drain on the tissues; hence the desirability in such 

 cases of considerable water for drinking purposes. 



Many experiments tend to show that the glycogen in the liver derives its 

 source mainly from protein, that it is thus stored up and used when required. 

 There are numerous other theories of the same kind. 



Abstinence from food demands that the body meat (muscle), shall be called 

 upon, and under these circumstances there follows a considerable daily decrease 

 of protein. Voit's experiments show that protein exists in two forms in the 

 body, viz., the organized protein and the movable protein, but such theories 

 have since been refuted. The bulk of existing experiments appears to show 

 that they are truly scientific in the proper sense of the word. The organized 

 protein undergoes a change very slowly, while the movable protein is rapidly 

 decomposed into its albuminoids, and must be replaced by the protein contained 

 in the fodder. In feeding fodders to sheep, experience seems to show that 

 there is every advantage in using considerable protein to obtain the best fatten- 

 ing; it tends to increase the amount of nutrients digested. Protein also plays 

 a most important role in milk production, in helping the growth of the cells 

 in the milk glands, as they consist mainly of protein. The importance of this 

 element in the food is very readily understood; furthermore, the greatest yield 

 in milk in most cases is in direct ratio with the supply of protein. This sub- 

 stance tends to increase the percentage of solid matter in milk. In certain 

 special cases, if the food is especially palatable to a cow, the flow of milk may 

 increase without additional protein, but there is then danger of the animal 



