Dietary Conditions on Physiological Resistance. 6i 



27 (365) 



Studies of the influence of various dietary conditions on phys- 

 iological resistance. I. The influence of different pro- 

 portions of protein in the food on resistance to 

 the toxicity of ricin and on recupera- 

 tion from hemorrhage.' 



By NELLIS B. foster. 



^FrojH y/ie Laboratory of Biological Chemistry of Columbia Univer- 

 sity, at the College of Physicia7is and S7irgeons.'\ 



It was planned to compare, in these experiments, the behavior 

 of two sets of dogs under variously induced pathological conditions. 

 The experiments were conducted on two pairs of dogs, each pair 

 being kept under identical conditions, so far as they could be con- 

 trolled, except with respect to the food. One animal of each pair 

 was given liberal amounts of protein in the daily diet, the other 

 received barely sufficient protein to provide for the necessary nitrog- 

 enous metabolism, the remaining ingredients of the food for each 

 animal being uniformly equal to the daily amounts ordinarily given 

 per kilo, in this laboratory, to perfectly healthy dogs. No attempt 

 was made to maintain equal caloric values in the diets. In each 

 experiment the animal was fed on a diet of hashed lean meat, 

 cracker meal and lard, the meat being gradually increased or dimin- 

 ished to a high or low plane, according to the plan in each case 

 and before the particular pathological condition was induced. 



It was a part of the plan of the work to keep the animal in 

 each instance on a high or low plane of protein nutrition for a con- 

 siderable period before the pathological phase was brought into the 

 •experiment. Such a course is not only desirable but essential, 

 for if, as has been claimed, a diet rich in protein exercises a dele- 



* This study was begun during the summer of 190S, at Dr. Gies' suggestion and 

 has been carried forward from time to time under his direction and with the aid of a 

 grant from the Rockefeller Institute. I am also indebted to Dr. Flexner for impor- 

 tant suggestions. 



The work has been frequently interrupted by researches in other directions and 

 has been beset by unusual experimental difficulties. Although planned to be the first 

 of a series of investigations, in point of publication it is the second from this laboratory 

 on the general subject stated above. See Dissertation by Welker, Columbia University, 

 J908. It is Dr. Gies' intention to continue investigation along these lines. 



