Protein Meal at End of 8-Day Fast. 173 



92 (1552) 



An observation of the effect of a protein meal given to a man at 

 the end of an 8-day fast. 



By William S. McCann (by invitation). 



[From the Russell Sage Institute of Pathology and the Second Medical 

 Division (Cornell) of Bellevue Hospital.] 



In an observation of the effect of a protein meal on a man at 

 the end of an eight day fast a rather unexpected result was obtained 

 which throws light on the fate of the carbohydrate portion of the 

 protein cleavage products. 



The subject was a normal man, 23 years old. Height 180 

 cm., weight 704 kgm. At the time of observation he had a 

 marked odor of acetone on his breath. Respiration was normal. 

 The C0 2 combining power of the blood plasma was 50 volumes 

 per cent. 



He was placed in the respiration calorimeter for a basal obser- 

 vation of 2 hours. He was then given a meal which consisted of 

 350 gm. of lean beef and 10 gm. of butter. One hour after taking 

 the meal a second observation was started and continued for 3 

 hours. During the first two hours of this latter observation respir- 

 atory quotients were obtained of .687 and .681. During the 

 third hour the quotient was .740. The first two quotients are 

 similar to those found in severe diabetes, or in phlorhizin glycos- 

 uria. During the basal periods the quotients were normal for 

 the fasting state, .733 and. 723 respectively. Following the meal 

 there was very little increase in heat production. The nitrogen 

 excretion was not increased. 



As evidence that the subject was not diabetic his tolerance 

 for 100 gm. of glucose was normal. The fasting level for blood 

 sugar was .086 per cent. After glucose it rose to .137 per cent. 

 There was no glycosuria. 



One week after the first observation the experiment was 

 repeated. During the interval the subject took a normal diet. 

 The basal heat production was lower, as was the basal nitrogen 

 excretion. After the meal a marked rise in heat production oc- 



