494 Drs. A. Fick and J. Wislicenus on the 



end of the time of work any considerable quantity of the nitro- 

 genous products of decomposition remained in the body, we 

 might reply that at least an equal quantity of such products 

 must have been in the body at the commencement of the time 

 of work. 



We will not, however, insist upon this point ; nay, we will even 

 concede to the opponents of our hypothesis that there was an ex- 

 ceptionally large quantity of the peculiar nitrogenous products of 

 muscular action retained in the body. We will also not avail our- 

 selves of the consideration that this curious phenomenon, if it 

 really existed, would only indicate that the products of decompo- 

 sition resulting from muscular action were not so highly oxidized 

 as ordinarily, and that therefore comparatively little heat was libe- 

 rated during their formation. We will, as we have said, put aside 

 all these considerations • but we may, without danger of meeting 

 with any opposition, assume that in the six hours following the 

 time of work an amount of the nitrogenous products of de- 

 composition was discharged, at least, as great as the difference 

 between the quantity in the body at the end of the time of work 

 and that which was in it at the commencement of that period ; 

 in fact, actual data for this assumption are not altogether want- 

 ing. Among the products of the decomposition of protein sub- 

 stances, the one which alone suggests itself as likely to be re- 

 tained in noticeable quantities in muscle is creatin. Now 

 observation, it must be admitted, goes to prove that a muscle 

 which has been hard worked contains more creatin than one 

 which has been at rest. Thus the quantity of creatin contained 

 in the heart of an ox was found to be 0*0014 (Gregory), and 

 that in other ox-flesh only 0*0006 (Stadeler). Let us now sup- 

 pose that in our case the extensor muscles of the thigh, which 

 really do the essential work in ascending, contained, previously 

 to that exertion, the same quantity of creatin, 0*0006, as ordi- 

 nary ox-flesh, but after it as much as is found in an ox's heart ; 

 then the difference between these two should be added to the 

 amount excreted through the urine during the time of work. 

 Now the weight of the muscles which extend the leg in walking 

 is estimated in a full-grown and powerful man at 2913 grms. 

 (see Weber, Mechanik der Gehwerkzeuge, p. 218) ; and the mus- 

 cles of the two legs would therefore weigh 5*8 kilogs. Accord- 

 ing to these data the surplus of creatin exceptionally retained 

 after the work will be 5*8 kilogs. (0-0014— 0*0006) = 4*64 grms.; 

 this indicates 8*4 grms. of albumen. 



From the products of decomposition discharged during the 

 six hours following the time of work: we have reckoned over 16 

 grms. of albumen ; we may therefore certainly assume that, during 

 those six hours, at least as much of the decomposition products 



