Examination of the results shown in the foregoing balance makes it quite clear that the body was essentially in nitrogenous equilibrium. Indeed, there was a slight plus balance, showing that even with the small intake of proteid food the body was storing up nitrogen at the rate of 0.16 gram per day. The average daily intake of nitrogen for the six days’ period was 6.40 grams, equal to 40.0 grams of proteid or albuminous food. The average daily output of nitrogen through the urine and fæces was 6.24 grams. The average daily output of nitrogen through the urine for the six days’ period was 5.44 grams, corresponding to the metabolism of 34 grams of proteid material. When these figures are contrasted with the usually accepted standards of proteid requirement for the healthy man, they are certainly somewhat impressive, especially when it is remembered that the body at that date had been in essentially this same condition for at least six months, and probably for an entire year. The Voit standard of 118 grams of proteid, with an equivalent of at least 18 grams of nitrogen and calling for the metabolism of 105 grams of proteid, or 16.5 grams of nitrogen per day, makes clear how great a physiological economy had been accomplished. In other words, the consumption of proteid food was reduced to at least one-third the daily amount generally considered as representing the average requirement of the healthy man, and this with maintenance of body-weight at practically a constant point for the preceding ten months, and, so far as the writer can observe, with no loss of vigor, capacity for mental and physical work, or endurance. Indeed, the writer is disposed to maintain that he has done more work and led a more active life in every way during the period of this experiment, and with greater comfort and less fatigue than usual. His health has certainly been of the best during this period.
In this connection it may be well to call attention to the completeness of the utilization of the daily food in this six days’ experiment, as shown by the small amount of refuse discharged per rectum, indicating as it does the high efficiency of the digestive processes and of the processes of absorption. The refuse matter for the entire period of six days amounted when dry to only 74 grams, and when it is remembered how large a proportion of this refuse must of necessity be composed of the cast-off secretions from the body, it will be seen how thorough must have been the utilization of the food by the system. The loss of nitrogen to the body per day through the fæces amounted to only 0.79 gram, and this on a mixed diet containing considerable matter not especially concentrated, and on some days with noticeable amounts of food, such as salads, not particularly digestible.
Finally, emphasis should be laid upon the fact that this economy of proteid food, this establishment of nitrogen equilibrium on a low proteid intake, was accomplished without increase in the daily intake of non-nitrogenous foods. In fact, the amount of fats and carbohydrates was likewise greatly reduced, far below the minimal standard of 3000 calories as representing the potential energy or fuel value of the daily diet. Indeed, during the balance period of six days just described the average fuel value of the food per day was only a little over 1600 calories.
As the experiment continued and the record for the months of April and May was obtained, it became evident from the nitrogen results that the rate of proteid katabolism was being still more reduced. A second balance experiment was therefore tried with a view to seeing if the body was still in nitrogen equilibrium, and also to ascertain whether the fuel value of the food still showed the same low calorific power. For a period of five days, June 23 to 27, the intake of food and the entire output were carefully compared, with the results shown in the accompanying tables.
Thursday, June 23, 1904.
Breakfast.—Coffee 123 grams, cream 50 grams, sugar 11 grams.
Lunch.—Omelette 50 grams, French fried potatoes 70 grams, bacon 10 grams, wheat gems 43 grams, butter 9 grams, strawberries 125 grams, sugar 20 grams, cream cake 59 grams.
Dinner.—Beefsteak 34 grams, peas 60 grams, creamed potato 97 grams, bread 26 grams, butter 17 grams, lettuce-orange salad 153 grams, crackers 43 grams, cream cheese 15 grams, coffee 53 grams, sugar 12 grams.
| Food. | Grams. | Per cent Nitrogen. | Total Nitrogen. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 123 + 53 = | 176 | × | 0.045 | = | 0.079 | gram. |
| Cream | 50 | × | 0.35 | = | 0.175 | ||
| Sugar | 11 + 20 + 12 = | 43 | × | 0.00 | = | 0.000 | |
| Omelette | 50 | × | 1.32 | = | 0.660 | ||
| French fried potatoes | 70 | × | 0.37 | = | 0.259 | ||
| Bacon | 10 | × | 3.43 | = | 0.343 | ||
| Wheat gems | 43 | × | 1.49 | = | 0.641 | ||
| Butter | 9 + 17 = | 26 | × | 0.13 | = | 0.034 | |
| Strawberries | 125 | × | 0.11 | = | 0.138 | ||
| Cream cake | 59 | × | 0.98 | = | 0.578 | ||
| Beefsteak | 34 | × | 4.14 | = | 1.408 | ||
| Peas | 60 | × | 0.97 | = | 0.582 | ||
| Creamed potato | 97 | × | 0.34 | = | 0.330 | ||
| Bread | 26 | × | 1.23 | = | 0.320 | ||
| Lettuce-orange salad | 153 | × | 0.15 | = | 0.230 | ||
| Crackers | 43 | × | 1.40 | = | 0.602 | ||
| Cream cheese | 15 | × | 1.62 | = | 0.243 | ||
| Total nitrogen in food | 6.622 | grams. | |||||
| Total nitrogen in urine | 5.260 | ||||||