Part 13

Nitrogen Output. Taken in. Nitrogen in Urine. Weight of Fæces (dry).

Feb. 9 7.883 grams. 8.64 grams. 10 8.087 8.29 11 10.102 8.55 18 grams. 12 10.436 9.93 18 13 8.170 8.87 80 14 8.321 8.33 58 ------ ------ ------ 174 grams contain 4.90% N. 52.999 52.61 + 8.52 grams nitrogen. ------ ---------------------- 52.999 grams nitrogen. 61.13 grams nitrogen.

Nitrogen balance for six days = -8.131 grams. Nitrogen balance per day = -1.355 grams.

Average Intake.

Calories per day 2529. Nitrogen per day 8.83 grams.

* * * * *

Mr. George M. Beers, Clerk in the Treasurer’s office of the Sheffield Scientific School, became a subject of study in January, 1903. Mr. Beers was thirty-eight years of age, and had always enjoyed fairly good health, although of somewhat frail physique. His occupation has always been indoor work as accountant, etc. His body-weight was 61 kilos.

Mr. Beers came to the writer for advice as to possible ways of improving his general health, and when it was learned that he was in the habit of eating large amounts of meat, the suggestion was made to him that it might be wise to ascertain the effect of a diminished quantity of proteid food, and as a result of this advice Mr. Beers began to cut down the amount of meat consumed daily. The effect of this abstention from meat was so noticeable that voluntarily all meat was withdrawn from his diet. With this change in dietary habits there came about a loss of body-weight, which, however, was soon regained.

Commencing with May 14, 1903, the amount of nitrogen excreted from the kidneys was determined from time to time, but not each day, since it was very soon found that Mr. Beers showed great regularity in his dietary habits, and a corresponding regularity in the composition of the output. This regularity was due in large measure to the fact that the subject became, for the time at least, practically a vegetarian. The beneficial effects noted in his own experience with abstention from meat led to his voluntarily excluding it from his daily diet, so that from January, 1903, to June, 1904, the subject practically tasted meat, fish, or eggs on only four occasions, namely, the 26th day of November, 1903, May 19, 20, and 21, 1904. With this limitation to a vegetable diet and with regular methods of living, the nitrogenous waste material was found to be constant within very narrow limits. Emphasis, however, should be laid upon the fact that there was no prescription of diet, but perfect freedom of choice, although this choice was limited wholly to vegetable and cereal foods.

The accompanying tables give the output of nitrogen, uric acid, etc., through the kidneys for various dates between May 14, 1903, and June 15, 1904. Scrutiny of these tables shows that the average daily output of nitrogen, so far as the data show, amounted to 8.58 grams. This indicates an average daily metabolism of 53.62 grams of proteid material.

Likewise noticeable is the perfectly steady body-weight throughout this whole period of time, while the low level of 8.5 grams of metabolized nitrogen testifies to an economy in the use of proteid food, which indicates that in this subject at least the needs of the body for proteid food could easily be met by an amount equal to about one-half that called for by the Voit and similar standard dietaries.

BEERS.

+-----------+-------+--------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | | | Urine. | | | | | | Date. | Body- +-------+------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ | |weight.|Volume.| Sp. | Nitrogen. | Uric Acid.| P₂O₅. | | | | 24 | Gr. | | | | | | |hours. | | | | | +-----------+-------+-------+------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ | 1904 | kilos | c.c. | | grams | gram | grams | | | | | | | | | | May 14 | 61.1 | 940 | 1020 | 8.23 | 0.330 | 1.82 | | Oct. 8 | | 920 | 1014 | 6.40 | 0.374 | 1.47 | | 13 | 61.1 | 740 | 1026 | 8.74 | 0.375 | 1.61 | | 14 | | 780 | 1024 | 8.37 | | | | 15 | | 970 | 1018 | 8.90 | 0.374 | 1.04 | | 16 | | 1365 | 1014 | 9.09 | | | | 17 | | 1295 | 1013 | 8.86 | | | | 18 | | 1400 | 1013 | 7.56 | 0.347 | 1.57 | | 20 | 61.1 | 1304 | 1014 | 8.14 | 0.328 | 1.44 | | 21 | | 1510 | 1012 | 7.97 | | | | 22 | | 1450 | 1012 | 8.26 | 0.338 | 1.95 | | 23 | | 1130 | 1013 | 7.86 | | | | 24 | | 1060 | 1019 | 8.46 | | | | 25 | | 1275 | 1015 | 8.25 | 0.375 | 1.74 | | 26 | | 1390 | 1014 | 7.34 | | | | 27 | 61.4 | 1000 | 1020 | 7.50 | 0.344 | 1.38 | | Nov. 21 | 61.4 | 670 | 1025 | 8.72 | | | | 22 | | 925 | 1017 | 8.21 | 0.335 | 1.28 | | 23 | | 585 | 1027 | 8.36 | | | | 24 | | 885 | 1023 | 8.02 | 0.354 | | | 25 | | 800 | 1026 | 7.92 | | | | 26 | | 1095 | 1020 | 10.77* | 0.364 | 1.53 | | Jan. 5 | 61.4 | 1110 | 1018 | 8.99 | 0.324 | | | 7 | | 650 | 1024 | 8.15 | 0.278 | 1.29 | | 8 | | 710 | 1020 | 7.88 | | | | 9 | | 910 | 1023 | 8.73 | | | | 10 | | 890 | 1020 | 8.01 | 0.327 | 1.21 | | 11 | | 875 | 1017 | 7.51 | | | | 12 | | 480 | 1029 | 6.77 | | | | 13 | | 580 | 1023 | 8.00 | 0.398 | | | 14 | | 765 | 1022 | 8.35 | | | | 15 | | 1360 | 1017 | 9.22 | | | | 16 | 61.4 | 990 | 1020 | 8.79 | | | | 17 | | 835 | 1024 | 8.47 | 0.354 | | | 18 | | 780 | 1020 | 8.05 | | | | 19 | | 790 | 1022 | 8.10 | 0.382 | | | Feb. 9 | | 860 | 1023 | 8.46 | 0.355 | | | 10 | 61.4 | 850 | 1024 | 8.57 | 0.226 | | | 11 | 61.4 | 750 | 1022 | 8.55 | 0.352 | | | 12 | 61.4 | 595 | 1026 | 8.46 | 0.368 | | | 13 | 61.4 | 640 | 1027 | 8.75 | 0.425 | | | 14 | 60.8 | 730 | 1025 | 8.28 | 0.353 | | | Apr. 18 | 61.5 | 610 | 1025 | 7.69 |⎫ | | | 19 | 61.5 | 870 | 1020 | 9.87 |⎪ | | | 20 | 61.5 | 985 | 1019 | 8.87 |⎪ | | | 21 | 61.5 | 795 | 1024 | 8.25 |⎬ 0.365 | | | 22 | 61.5 | 1090 | 1019 | 9.02 |⎪ daily | | | 23 | 61.5 | 970 | 1022 | 8.44 |⎪ average | | | 24 | 61.5 | 810 | 1021 | 7.30 |⎭ | | | 25 | 61.5 | 850 | 1018 | 6.94 |⎫ | | | 26 | 61.5 | 620 | 1024 | 7.11 |⎪ | | | 28 | | 450 | 1027 | 8.58 |⎬ 0.691 | | | 29 | | 650 | 1025 | 9.52 |⎪ | | | 30 | | 1260 | 1018 | 10.20 |⎪ | | | May 1 | | 1060 | 1017 | 8.71 |⎭ | | | 2 | | 610 | 1025 | 8.16 | | | | 3 | | 650 | 1022 | 8.70 | | | | 4 | 61.5 | 870 | 1019 | 8.51 | | | | 5 | 61.3 | 610 | 1025 | 8.31 | | | | 6 | 61.3 | 655 | 1026 | 8.72 |⎫ | | | 7 | | 680 | 1025 | 8.53 |⎪ | | | 8 | 60.8 | 490 | 1026 | 7.00 |⎪ | | | 9 | 61.3 | 550 | 1026 | 7.59 |⎬ 0.356 | | | 10 | | 705 | 1025 | 7.78 |⎪ | | | 11 | | 730 | 1025 | 8.28 |⎪ | | | 12 | | 800 | 1025 | 9.36 |⎭ | | | 16 | | 715 | 1022 | 7.29 | | | | 17 | | 990 | 1018 | 6.95 | | | | 18 | | 715 | 1026 | 7.81 | | | | 19 | | 845 | 1926 | 10.45† | | | | 20 | 61.5 | 1170 | 1020 | 11.02† | | | | 21 | 61.2 | 795 | 1025 | 10.02† | | | | 22 | | 835 | 1020 | 8.42 | | | | 23 | | 695 | 1025 | 9.42 | | | | 24 | | 660 | 1025 | 9.82 | | | | 25 | | 700 | 1025 | 9.91 |⎫ | | | 26 | | 620 | 1026 | 8.59 |⎪ | | | 27 | | 665 | 1026 | 9.53 |⎬ 0.434 | | | 28 | 61.2 | 960 | 1021 | 10.31 |⎪ | | | 29 | | 790 | 1023 | 9.24 |⎭ | | | 31 | | 930 | 1025 | 10.44 | | | | June 1 | | 855 | 1018 | 8.76 | | | | 2 | | 850 | 1023 | 8.01 | | | | 3 | | 860 | 1020 | 9.24 | | | | 4 | 61.4 | 1145 | 1021 | 10.17 | | | | 5 | | 590 | 1024 | 7.47 | | | | 6 | | 510 | 1029 | 7.53 | | | | 7 | | 620 | 1027 | 8.26 | | | | 8 | | 985 | 1020 | 8.45 | | | | 9 | | 1220 | 1020 | 8.49 | | | | 10 | | 1220 | 1017 | 8.28 | | | | 11 | | 1710 | 1013 | 8.82 | | | | 12 | | 925 | 1017 | 7.11 | | | | 13 | | 920 | 1020 | 8.01 | | | | 14 | | 1090 | 1015 | 8.64 | | | | 15 | 61.5 | 915 | 1022 | 8.68 | | | +-----------+-------+-------+------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ |Daily average | 880 | 1021 | 8.58 | 0.365 | 1.49 | +-------------------+-------+------+-----------+-----------+-----------+

[*] Turkey eaten on this day.

[†] On these three days, meat, fish, and eggs were eaten.

On February 9, a nitrogen balance was attempted covering a period of six days, in which there was an exact comparison of the nitrogen income and output. In this balance period it will be observed that the total amount of nitrogen taken in for the six days was 53.108 grams, while the output of nitrogen through the kidneys amounted to 51.07 grams. The nitrogen excreted through the fæces, however, brought the total nitrogen output up to 58.83 grams, thus making a minus balance for the six days of 5.722 grams of nitrogen. During this period the average fuel value of the food per day was 2168 calories. The average daily output of metabolized nitrogen during the period was 8.5 grams, practically identical with the average daily excretion of nitrogen through the kidneys for the entire year, so far as determined. We have here a distinct minus balance, due either to an insufficient amount of proteid food, or an insufficient fuel value.

_Tuesday, February 9, 1904._

Breakfast.—Oatmeal 237.5 grams, butter 10 grams, sugar 35 grams, milk 60 grams, coffee 210 grams.

Lunch.—Macaroni 142 grams, cheese 10.5 grams, bread 71.5 grams, sweet potato 119.5 grams, milk 250 grams.

Dinner.—Bread 80.7 grams, butter 20 grams, mashed potato 176 grams, string beans 77.5 grams, apple pie 82 grams, milk 250 grams.

Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.

Oatmeal 237.5 × 0.64 = 1.520 grams. Butter 10 + 20 = 30.0 × 0.088 = 0.026 Sugar 35.0 × 0.00 = 0.000 Milk 60 + 250 + 250 = 560.0 × 0.52 = 2.912 Coffee 210.0 × 0.10 = 0.210 Macaroni 142.0 × 0.87 = 1.235 Cheese 10.5 × 4.45 = 0.467 Bread 71.5 + 80.7 = 152.2 × 1.36 = 2.069 Sweet potato 119.5 × 0.28 = 0.334 Mashed potato 176.0 × 0.36 = 0.633 String beans 77.5 × 0.26 = 0.201 Apple pie 82.0 × 0.49 = 0.401 ------ Total nitrogen in food 10.008 grams. Total nitrogen in urine 8.460

Fuel value of the food 2094 calories.

_Wednesday, February 10, 1904._

Breakfast.—Oatmeal 299 grams, butter 19 grams, cream 71 grams, sugar 41 grams, coffee 210 grams.

Lunch.—Bread 79 grams, butter 11 grams, boiled potato 155.2 grams, milk 250 grams.

Dinner.—Bread 56 grams, butter 12 grams, baked beans 100 grams, cranberry sauce 150 grams, sugar 21 grams, coffee 210 grams.

Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.

Oatmeal 99.0 × 0.60 = 1.794 grams. Butter 19 + 11 + 12 = 42.0 × 0.088 = 0.036 Cream 71.0 × 0.47 = 0.333 Sugar 41 + 21 = 62.0 × 0.00 = 0.000 Coffee (breakfast) 210.0 × 0.12 = 0.252 Bread 79 + 56 = 135.0 × 1.65 = 2.227 Boiled potato 155.2 × 0.39 = 0.605 Milk 250.0 × 0.55 = 1.375 Baked beans 100.0 × 1.40 = 1.400 Cranberry sauce 150.0 × 0.04 = 0.060 Coffee (dinner) 210.0 × 0.11 = 0.231 ------ Total nitrogen in food 8.313 grams. Total nitrogen in urine 8.570

Fuel value of the food 1723 calories.

_Thursday, February 11, 1904._

Breakfast.—Oatmeal 300 grams, cream 71 grams, butter 10 grams, sugar 41 grams, coffee 210 grams.

Lunch.—Butter 14 grams, bread 126 grams, boiled sweet potato 205 grams, milk 250 grams.

Dinner.—Bread 22 grams, butter 7.5 grams, mashed potato 100 grams, sugar 14 grams, milk 250 grams.

Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.

Oatmeal 300.0 × 0.40 = 1.200 grams. Cream 71.0 × 0.49 = 0.347 Butter 10 + 14 + 7.5 = 31.5 × 0.088 = 0.027 Sugar 41 + 14 = 55.0 × 0.00 = 0.000 Coffee 210.0 × 0.096 = 0.201 Bread 126 + 22 = 148.0 × 1.75 = 2.590 Sweet potato 205.0 × 0.31 = 0.635 Milk 250 + 250 = 500.0 × 0.51 = 2.550 Mashed potato 100.0 × 0.36 = 0.360 ------ Total nitrogen in food 7.910 grams. Total nitrogen in urine 8.550

Fuel value of the food 1979 calories.

_Friday, February 12, 1904._

Breakfast.—Oatmeal 300 grams, butter 10 grams, cream 74 grams, sugar 41 grams, coffee 210 grams.

Lunch.—Bread 86 grams, butter 9 grams, potato 200 grams, sugar 14 grams, milk 250 grams.

Dinner.—Bread 63 grams, butter 14 grams, mashed potato 150 grams, apple dumpling 136 grams, milk 250 grams.

Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.

Oatmeal 300 × 0.52 = 1.560 grams. Butter 10 + 9 + 14 = 33 × 0.088 = 0.029 Cream 74 × 0.50 = 0.370 Sugar 41 + 14 = 55 × 0.00 = 0.000 Coffee 210 × 0.11 = 0.231 Bread 86 + 63 = 149 × 1.71 = 2.547 Potato 200 × 0.41 = 0.820 Milk 250 + 250 = 500 × 0.48 = 2.400 Mashed potato 150 × 0.37 = 0.555 Apple dumpling 136 × 0.72 = 0.979 ------ Total nitrogen in food 9.491 grams. Total nitrogen in urine 8.460

Fuel value of the food 2209 calories.

_Saturday, February 13, 1904._

Breakfast.—Oatmeal 300 grams, butter 12 grams, cream 70 grams, sugar 41 grams, coffee 210 grams.

Lunch.—Bread 80 grams, butter 11 grams, sweet potato 132 grams, sugar 20 grams, milk 250 grams.

Dinner.—Bread 59.5 grams, mashed potato 175 grams, butter 11 grams, sugar 20 grams, apple pie 141 grams, milk 250 grams.

Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.

Oatmeal 300.0 × 0.43 = 1.290 grams. Butter 12 + 11 + 11 = 34.0 × 0.088 = 0.029 Cream 70.0 × 0.50 = 0.350 Sugar 41 + 20 + 20 = 81.0 × 0.00 = 0.000 Coffee 210.0 × 0.11 = 0.231 Bread 80 + 59.5 = 139.5 × 1.64 = 2.287 Sweet potato 132.0 × 0.37 = 0.488 Milk 250 + 250 = 500.0 × 0.54 = 2.700 Mashed potato 175.0 × 0.37 = 0.647 Apple pie 141.0 × 0.43 = 0.606 ------ Total nitrogen in food 8.628 grams. Total nitrogen in urine 8.750

Fuel value of the food 2395 calories.

_Sunday, February 14, 1904._

Breakfast.—Oatmeal 300 grams, butter 16 grams, cream 70 grams, sugar 41 grams, coffee 210 grams.

Lunch.—Baked potato 171 grams, bread 72 grams, butter 15 grams, sugar 21 grams, apple sauce 38 grams, milk 250 grams.

Dinner.—Bread 35.5 grams, butter 13.5 grams, mashed potato 180 grams, sugar 20 grams, chocolate cake 111 grams, ice cream 115 grams, milk 250 grams.

Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.

Oatmeal 300.0 × 0.46 = 1.380 grams. Butter 16 + 15 + 13.5 = 44.5 × 0.088 = 0.039 Cream 70.0 × 0.50 = 0.350 Sugar 41 + 21 + 20 = 82.0 × 0.00 = 0.000 Coffee 210.0 × 0.11 = 0.231 Baked potato 171.0 × 0.41 = 0.701 Bread 72 + 35.5 = 107.5 × 1.75 = 1.881 Apple sauce 38.0 × 0.029 = 0.011 Milk 250 + 250 = 500.0 × 0.40 = 2.000 Mashed potato 180.0 × 0.37 = 0.666 Chocolate cake 111.0 × 0.75 = 0.832 Ice cream 115.0 × 0.58 = 0.667 ------ Total nitrogen in food 8.758 grams. Total nitrogen in urine 8.280

Fuel value of the food 2610 calories.

NITROGEN BALANCE.—_Beers._

Nitrogen Output. Taken in. Nitrogen in Urine. Weight of Fæces (dry).

Feb. 9 10.008 grams. 8.46 grams. 10 8.313 8.57 44.7 grams. 11 7.910 8.55 19.0 12 9.491 8.46 30.0 13 8.628 8.75 28.0 14 8.758 8.28 5.0 ------ ------ ------ 126.7 grams contain 6.13% N. 53.108 51.07 + 7.76 grams nitrogen. ------ ---------------------- 53.108 grams nitrogen. 58.83 grams nitrogen.

Nitrogen balance for six days = -5.722 grams. Nitrogen balance per day = -0.953 gram.

Average Intake.

Calories per day 2168. Nitrogen per day 8.85 grams.

On May 6, a second nitrogen balance was attempted covering a period of seven days, in which, as before, there was an exact comparison of the income and output of nitrogen. In this period of seven days, as shown in the accompanying tables, the fuel value of the food was essentially the same as in the preceding period, but the amount of proteid food was increased to an average intake of 10.10 grams per day. Under these conditions there was a distinct plus balance for the seven days amounting to 2.425 grams, thus showing that with this quantity of nitrogenous food the body was laying on nitrogen to the extent of 0.346 gram per day. The average daily amount of nitrogen metabolized during this period was only 8.18 grams, being quite noticeably below the average daily amount for the year. In other words, the results of this balance period show that with a consumption of food sufficient to yield about 2200 calories per day, the body of this subject needed to metabolize only 8.25 grams of nitrogen per day to more than maintain nitrogen equilibrium. Following are the tables of results:

_Friday, May 6, 1904._

Breakfast.—Oatmeal 345 grams, butter 7 grams, sugar 30 grams, milk 100 grams, coffee 180 grams.

Dinner.—Bread 67 grams, potato 71 grams, corn 179 grams, pie 133 grams, milk 200 grams.

Supper.—Biscuit 75 grams, butter 11 grams, potato 106 grams, cake 52 grams, apricots 75 grams, milk 230 grams.

Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.