60 REPORT — 1S61. 



ordinary life, and varied on the average of tlie different prisoners, from V'l to 

 10*1 ozs., and gave so large a total average as 8*55 ozs. The extremes of 

 single observations were 1*75 and 26*59 ozs. The proportion to tiie solid 

 food was 22^ per cent. 



2. The weight was increased on Sunday by 44'"3, 70, and 74- per cent, of 

 that on all days. 



3. The weight was lessened on the treadwheel-days from that observed 

 on Sundays, by 41, 53*3, and 42*6 per cent, in three cases, and from the 

 average of all days by 14"8 and 21*1 in two cases, whilst in the 3rd case the 

 weight was equal on all days. 



4. The least evacuation occurred on the Saturday (which was also a 

 treadwheel-day), and the diminution from the weight of all days was 26"1, 

 57'6, and 34*6 per cent., and from that on Sundays no less than 48, 75, and 

 62 per cent. 



5. The proportion of water contained in the fajces was very uniform from 

 day to day, viz., 73"5 per cent., and varied only from 71*8 to 77*6 per cent, 

 on different days. It was above the average on Sundays and a little below 

 the average on treadwheel-days. 



6. The quantity of nitrogen in each oz. of fresh fteces varied from 4*36 to 

 4*9 grains, and was, on the average, 4*646 grains. The total daily quantity 

 thus evacuated, was, on the average, no less than 41*8 grains. There was a 

 considerable increase on the Sunday, and a marked decrease on the Saturday, 

 and it was below tlie average on treadwheel-days, and in both of these 

 respects it corresponded with the gross weight of the faeces. The actual 

 amounts under the three conditions were 59*9, 35*8, and 40*53 grains, giving 

 an increase of 43*3 per cent, and a decrease of 14*3 and 3 per cent. There 

 was a very interesting fact noticed in reference to the relation of nitrogen in 

 the urine and faeces on the Sunday, and which showed, proliably, that the 

 assimilation of food was lessened on a day of perfect rest following one of 

 hard labour, viz., that the increase which was observed in the nitrogen in 

 the faeces on the Sunday corresponded accurately with the decrease observed 

 in the urine on that day, viz., a decrease of 13 and 18 grains of urea in the 

 urine, and an increase of nitrogen, reckoned as urea, in the faeces, of 71*33 

 grains. 



7. The case which had the extra allowance of 6 1 ozs. of bread daily, 

 evacuated the largest amount of fasces, both on the total average and on 

 Sundays, — a fact of great significance in reference to the kind of food which 

 should be selected for extra diets. 



Summary. — Thus, on reconsidering the foregoing results obtained from 

 this large series of inquiries, the following general facts were cjicited : — 



Tlie prisoners emitted much more urea and faeces than occurs in ordinary 

 life. 



On Sundays, with entire rest, the amount of urea was connnonly lessened, 

 but the nitrogen in the fteces was increased in the same degree. The whole 

 weight of the faeces was increased. 



With treadwheel-labour there was a small increase in the amount of urea 

 and of urine evolved, whilst there was a small decrease in the evolution of 

 chloride of sodium in the urine, in the weight of the faeces, and the nitrogen 

 and the fluid contained in the faeces. 



On Saturdays, with treadwheel-labour, the diminution in the weight and 

 nitrogenous matter of the faeces was considerable. 



With increase in the allowance of bread to a prisoner who was believed to 

 need extra diet, there was a considerable increase in the weight of the fceces 

 and loss of their nitrogen, and particularly with rest. 



