STRENGTH OR DYNAMOMETER TESTS.
Naturally, in the case of these men the gain in strength recorded cannot be assigned to systematic training. The only change in their mode of living which can in any sense be considered as responsible for the improvement is the change in diet. The main fact to be emphasized, however, is that these men—trained athletes, accustomed to living on relatively large amounts of proteid food—for a period of five months reduced their intake of proteid food more than fifty per cent without loss of bodily strength, but, on the contrary, with a marked improvement in their muscular power.
Most striking is this gain in strength when compared with the very marked decline in the rate of proteid metabolism. Thus, in the case of Jacobus, the excretion of metabolized nitrogen was reduced to 7.43 grams per day as the average for the last two months of the experiment, yet his strength test showed an increase from 4548 in January to 5667 for June. Further, it must be recalled that an excretion of 7.43 grams of nitrogen means the metabolism of only 46.4 grams of proteid matter. Similarly, in the case of Donahue, a very active man whose work on the Varsity basket-ball team called for vigorous exercise, his strength test rose from 4584 to 5917 on a daily diet which led to the metabolism of only 7.39 grams of nitrogen per day, or about 46 grams of proteid matter. Further, Donahue frequently referred to the far greater freedom from fatigue he experienced on the low proteid diet, and he was clearly conscious of a distinct improvement in his physical condition.
W. L. ANDERSON BELLIS
Photographs taken prior to the experiment.
The following letter from Dr. Anderson, the Director of the Yale Gymnasium, gives his estimate of the men at the end of the first three months of the experiment:
Yale University Gymnasium, New Haven, Conn.,
April 12, 1904.
Professor Russell H. Chittenden,
Director of the Sheffield Scientific School, Yale University.
Dear Sir,—Herewith find a brief report of the physical condition and ability of the eight Yale students who are taking the special diet while engaged in active exercise.
These men, with one exception, Dr. Callahan, are experts in their special lines of avocation.
Mr. G. W. Anderson is a foot-ball, base-ball, and basket-ball player, as well as a crew man (not Varsity), well built and an all round athlete.
Mr. W. L. Anderson, a “Y” athlete (hurdler), the captain of the Yale Gymnastic Team, University Gymnastic Champion, and American Collegiate Gymnastic Champion.
Mr. H. S. Bellis, a member of the Y. G. A., a gymnast and acrobat and in constant training.
Dr. W. H. Callahan, Medical Assistant at the Gymnasium, in daily practice in the gymnasium; bowling, hand-ball, and running.
Mr. M. Donahue, a very muscular and versatile athlete, a foot-ball player and a Varsity basket-ball player.
Mr. C. S. Jacobus, a “Y” athlete, a noted long-distance man, and one of the best University runners.
Mr. H. R. Schenker, an active member of the Y. G. A., a point winner and intercollegiate competitor in gymnastics.
Mr. John Stapleton, a wrestler and gymnast. A professional, a man of large body and great strength.
These eight men are in constant practice and in the “pink of condition.” They were in “training form” when they began the changed diet. All have lost in weight, especially Dr. Callahan, who has dropped from 204 pounds to 185 pounds in two months. Dr. Callahan is not an athlete, but is a vigorous worker in the gymnasium, being in daily and constant practice. He is liberally supplied with adipose tissue and can well afford to drop in weight.
As to the loss of weight in the other cases, it would not be wise to attribute this to the diet alone. We find that most athletes who represent the University in the big contests lose in body-weight, but I attribute this loss as much to worry and responsibility as to strict bodily activity.
These students are in a different class from the soldiers, first, because they are well educated young men, secondly, because their development was towards a specific end, the attainment of strength and skill as representative Yale athletes, and thirdly, on account of college requirements of fifteen hours per week, which time stands for study and laboratory attendance aside from the recitations. We have here a double drain on the body energy. All mental work is expensive, hence the demand upon the corporeal machinery has been very constant and strenuous.
I notice little change in the condition of the men over that of a year ago, when I had most of them with me and under like physical training.
In the case of W. L. Anderson, captain of the Yale Gymnastic Association, there was a noticeable falling off in the strength tests in February and March, but I believe the worry incident to the intercollegiate contests, the steady training, and the business cares of the Association went far towards producing a fatigued state. W. L. Anderson is only a freshman in the Medical School; he did his studying at night, and this combined with his youth doubtless caused the loss of weight as much as any change in diet. He has shown the same symptoms before this year. At this writing he is in good physical condition. I speak with certainty in his case because I have had good opportunity to study him at home. It was while under the restricted diet that he won both championships, these being the Collegiate and All-around Intercollegiate Championship of America.[44]
Schenker won points for the first time in the intercollegiate contests while on the diet; he showed no falling off, rather to the contrary, made a steady gain in ability.
Jacobus complained of a pain in his side but in spite of this he has entered a number of events, has kept up his training and is in good condition. Jacobus is a long-distance runner; great endurance is required for these events, and this endurance he has kept up. He tells me his stomach is in better condition than it has been during his three years of work at Yale.
Donahue has steadily improved in ability. He has kept his position on the Varsity Basket Ball Team, and has put up strong and aggressive games, and says he is as well as ever.
Stapleton shows no falling off at all. He keeps up wrestling, which is a drastic exercise; he works at heavy gymnastics and gains steadily.
One matter must be reported in reference to the strength tests. The first trial was made when all members of the squad were present. College men are very sensitive to competition, hence the great exertion put forth. The other trials were made when the men were by themselves. The “spur” was missing.
I have watched the efforts of these men with interest and care, especially as two of them live in my own family. I fail to see any falling off in strength, the case of W. L. Anderson excepted. The fellows report being in satisfactory shape and claim that the “ups and downs” are no more in evidence this year than in the past.
These picked men, representing several kinds of competitive sports, have gained in ability and skill on the more limited diet they are now using, and are not showing any signs of deterioration from the diminished intake of proteid food. I pronounce them, from a physical standpoint, in good shape.
Respectfully yours,
(Signed) William G. Anderson.
It must be remembered that this letter from Dr. Anderson was written after the March strength test was taken, and prior to the test of April 20. Dr. Anderson was not in New Haven at the close of the experiment, consequently it was not possible to obtain his estimate of the men at that date, but there can be no question that there was a distinct improvement from the middle of April to the middle of June; certainly as marked as the improvement from the beginning of the experiment in January, to April 12, the date of Dr. Anderson’s letter.
Finally, attention may be called to the photographs of Messrs. Stapleton, Bellis, and W. L. Anderson, which are introduced primarily to show the physical makeup and muscular development of the men composing this student group. The photographs of Stapleton were taken in April, 1904, after he had been under experiment for three months. The photographs of Bellis and W. L. Anderson were taken prior to the experiment. They all afford a good illustration of the highly developed muscular mechanism of different types, with a corresponding adaptability for different lines of muscular effort.