SHOWING THE AVERAGE QUANTITY OF DRY, OR SOLID MATTER, CARBON, NITROGEN, AND MOISTURE, IN DIFFERENT ARTICLES OF DIET.
| One hundred Parts. | Dry Matter. | Carbon. | Nitrogen. | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrowroot, | 81.8 | 36.4 | 18.2 | |
| Beans, | 85.89 | 38.24 | 14.11 | |
| Beef, fresh, | 25 | 12.957 | 3.752 | 75 |
| Bread, rye, | 67.79 | 30.674 | 32.21 | |
| Butter, | 100 | 65.6 | ||
| Cabbage, | 7.7 | 0.28 | 92.3 | |
| Carrot, | 12.4 | 0.30 | 87.6 | |
| Cherries, | 25.15 | 74.85 | ||
| Chickens, | 22.7 | 77.3 | ||
| Codfish, | 20 | 80 | ||
| Cucumbers, | 2.86 | 97.14 | ||
| Eggs, whites, | 20 | 80 | ||
| Eggs, yolk, | 46.23 | 53.77 | ||
| Lard, hog’s, | 100 | 79.098 | ||
| Milk, cow’s, | 12.98 | 87.02 | ||
| Oats, | 79.2 | 40.154 | 1.742 | 20.8 |
| Oatmeal, | 93.4 | 6.6 | ||
| Olive-oil, | 100 | 77.50 | ||
| Oysters, | 12.6 | 87.4 | ||
| Peaches, | 19.76 | 80.24 | ||
| Pears, | 16.12 | 83.88 | ||
| Peas, | 84 | 35.743 | 16 | |
| Plums, greengage, | 28.90 | 71.10 | ||
| Potatoes, | 24.1 | 10.604 | 0.3615 | 75.9 |
| Rye, | 83.4 | 38.530 | 1.417 | 16.6 |
| Suet, mutton, | 100 | 78.996 | ||
| Starch, potato, | 82 | 36.44 | 18 | |
| Starch, wheat, | 85.2 | 37.5 | 14.8 | |
| Sugar, maple, | 42.1 | |||
| Sugar, refined, | 42.5 | |||
| Sugar, brown, | 40.88 | |||
| Turnips, | 7.5 | 3.2175 | 0.1275 | 92.5 |
| Veal, roasted, | 52.52 | 14.70 | ||
| Wheat, | 85.5 | 39.415 | 1.966 | 14.5 |
Note. Let the pupil mention those articles of food that are most nutritious, from a review of this table, and the last four paragraphs.
293. Those articles that do not contain the essential elements of the system should not be used as exclusive articles of diet. This principle has been, and may be illustrated by experiment. Feed a dog with pure sugar, or olive-oil, (articles that contain no nitrogen,) for several weeks, and the evil effects of non-nitrogenous nutriment will be manifested. At first, the dog will take his food with avidity, and seem to thrive upon it; soon this desire for food will diminish, his body emaciate, his eye become ulcerated, and in a few weeks he will die; but mix bran or sawdust with the sugar or oil, and the health and vigor of the animal will be maintained for months. A similar phenomenon will be manifested, if grain only be given to a horse, without hay, straw, or material of like character. ([Appendix H.])
294. Some articles of food contain the elements of chyle in great abundance, yet afford but little nutriment, because they are difficult of digestion; while other articles contain but a small quantity of these elements, and afford more nourishment, because they are more easily affected by the digestive process.
293. How has the effect of non-nitrogenous nutriment been illustrated? 294. Why do some articles of food that contain the elements of chyle afford but little nutriment? Why do articles that contain a small quantity of these elements afford more nourishment? 295. How was the time required for digesting different articles of food ascertained?
295. The following table exhibits the general results of experiments made on Alexis St. Martin, by Dr. Beaumont, when he endeavored to ascertain the time required for the digestion of different articles of food.[10] The stomach of St. Martin was ruptured by the bursting of a gun. When he recovered from the effects of the accident under the surgical care of Dr. Beaumont, the stomach became adherent to the 139 side, with an external aperture. Nature had formed a kind of valve, which closed the aperture from the interior, and thus prevented the contents of the stomach from escaping; but on pushing it aside, the process of digestion could be seen. Through this opening, the appearance of the coats of the stomach and food, at different stages of digestion, were examined.
TABLE,
SHOWING THE MEAN TIME OF DIGESTION OF THE DIFFERENT ARTICLES OF DIET.