Part 28

The figures given show an astonishingly low proteid metabolism for the five months’ period; 7.5 grams of nitrogen in the day’s urine correspond to 46.8 grams of proteid metabolized, while 8.5 grams of nitrogen mean the metabolism of 53.1 grams of proteid. In other words, all of these men during a period of five months practically averaged a daily output of nitrogen through the kidneys corresponding to the metabolism of less than one-half the 105 grams of absorbable proteid called for by the so-called standard diets. Further, close scrutiny of the results in the individual tables shows that during many weeks much lower results were obtained than is indicated by the general averages.

Just here emphasis should be laid upon one fact, doubtless of primary importance in any modification of the rate or extent of metabolism in any individual, viz., that in this experiment the daily diet was prescribed, thereby taking from the individual freedom of choice in the selection of food. The writer has no question in his own mind that an intelligent choice of food, coupled with the satisfying of a natural or acquired appetite in moderation, will lead to better results than any system of prescription as to what shall be eaten each day and in what quantity. Still, this is the method necessarily made use of in the present experiment, the writer having prescribed the character and amount of each meal throughout the entire six months’ period, with due regard, of course, to the expressed likes and dislikes of the men.

One feature in the diet compelled by the circumstances of the case also needs to be referred to, namely, the necessity of keeping the men thoroughly satisfied, so that there should be no feeling of hunger, no craving for food. With a person interested in the experiment and desirous of ascertaining the effect of a low nitrogen intake, there would naturally be a willingness to endure, if necessary, for a time some personal discomfort; but with this detail of the United States Army it could not be expected that the men would remain satisfied if they were compelled to undergo the pangs of hunger even for a day or two. Consequently, it was necessary in prescribing the daily diet to see that the quantity of the food was such as to completely satisfy the appetite. This necessitated the use of considerable bulky food of low fuel, and low nitrogen, value. In this way only was it feasible to reduce the nitrogen intake, as well as the fuel value of the food, to the desired level. Practically during the entire six months’ period, with the possible exception of a few days, the men were given sufficient food to completely satisfy their appetites. Throughout the entire period of the experiment, the men all manifested a keen appetite and utilized their food to good advantage, with establishment of the nitrogen metabolism indicated by the foregoing results.

Still confining our attention to the average results regarding nitrogen excretion, we may ask the question, what was the excretion of metabolized nitrogen per kilo of body-weight in the different individuals? This is easily calculated and the data are shown in the following table, in which the figures standing for body-weight are either the data for the month of April, 1904, or else the average between the October and April weights, as in those cases where the body-weight fell off during the experiment.

Average daily Metabolized Nitrogen Body-weight. Output of Nitrogen. per kilo November-April. Body-weight.

kilos grams gram

Fritz 74.0 7.84 0.106 Oakman 64.0 7.42 0.116 Bates 68.0 8.08 0.118 Morris 59.0 7.03 0.119 Broyles 60.0 7.26 0.120 Henderson 71.0 8.91 0.125 Loewenthal 59.0 7.38 0.125 Cohn 63.5 8.05 0.126 Steltz 53.0 7.13 0.134 Sliney 60.0 8.39 0.138 Coffman 58.0 8.17 0.140 Davis 58.0 8.61 0.148 Zooman 55.0 8.25 0.150

Scrutiny of these results shows that the daily excretion of metabolized nitrogen ranged in this period of five months from 0.106 gram per kilo of body-weight up to 0.150 gram per kilo of body-weight. Since these men were on essentially the same diet, it is obvious that there were some peculiarities, or personal idiosyncrasies, that tended to modify the exact extent of proteid metabolism, and in some cases at least constituted a more potent factor than body-weight in determining the rate of metabolism. This fact is clearly emphasized in the case of Morris, who, with a body-weight of 59 kilos, showed a proteid metabolism equivalent to only 7.03 grams of nitrogen per day, and Coffman, who, with a body-weight of 58 kilos, showed under the same conditions an average excretion of 8.17 grams of nitrogen per day.

What was the effect of this lowered proteid metabolism upon the bodily condition, especially body-weight? To answer this question the weights of the men are given in the following table, the one column of figures showing the body-weight at the commencement of the experiment, the other column showing the weight at the close of the experiment.

TABLE OF BODY-WEIGHTS.

October, 1903. April, 1904. kilos kilos Steltz 52.3 53.0 Zooman 54.0 55.0 Coffman 59.1 58.0 Morris 59.2 59.0 Broyles 59.4 61.0 Loewenthal 60.1 59.0 Sliney 61.3 60.6 Cohn 65.0 62.6 Oakman 66.7 62.1 Henderson 71.3 71.0 Fritz 76.0 72.6 Bates 72.7 64.3 February Davis 59.3 57.2 January

Comparison of these figures shows that six of the men were practically of the same body-weight at the close of the experiment as at the beginning. Of the others, Oakman, Fritz, Cohn, and Bates lost somewhat. Bates, however, was quite stout, and the work in the gymnasium as well as the change of diet tended to reduce his weight. In fact, with the possible exception of Oakman, the slight loss of weight these latter men underwent was a distinct gain to their bodily condition. The most significant feature, however, is to be found on scrutiny of the tables of results for each man, where is seen the body-weight for each day of the six months. Here it will be noticed that, as the experiment progressed, there was, as a rule, a tendency for the body-weight to increase; this was followed by a decline, after which the weight remained practically stationary. This is well illustrated in Oakman’s case. Starting with a body-weight of 66.7 kilos on October 4, he reached 67.6 kilos on November 29, then declining in weight to 62.3 on January 18, after which he remained practically stationary, or varied only within narrow limits.

Finally, it should be said that the low proteid metabolism on which these men were apparently maintaining body-weight was not associated with any increase of non-nitrogenous food. At no time did the fuel value of the daily food reach 3000 calories; in fact, about January 12 the average fuel value of the food was only a little over 2000 calories per day.

FIRST NITROGEN BALANCE.

Early in January, the body-weight of the men having become practically stationary and the proteid metabolism, as measured by the output of metabolized nitrogen, having been reduced to a low level, an attempt was made to see if the men were truly in a condition of nitrogenous equilibrium. A six-day period was used, during which all the food for each meal was carefully analyzed, the nitrogen in every sample of food being determined in duplicate by the Kjeldahl-Gunning process. The fæces of the period were separated by lampblack, given at appropriate times in gelatin capsules, and all necessary precautions observed to insure an accurate nitrogen balance. The accompanying tables of results give all the necessary data.

The average nitrogen intake per day was 8.23 grams, and the average fuel value of the food per day was 2078 calories. These are the figures for Oakman. With some of the other men there were slight variations from these figures, as shown in the tables—owing to slight variations in diet. Without exception, all the men showed a minus balance, indicating that on this diet the body was losing nitrogen. In other words, the diet as a whole was insufficient for the needs of the body in every case. Whether this was due to lack of sufficient proteid or to an insufficient amount of fat and carbohydrate, _i. e._, a too low fuel value, cannot be said definitely, but there is every reason to believe that the amount of non-nitrogenous food was insufficient to furnish the requisite fuel value, and consequently body proteid was drawn upon to supply the deficiency. The loss of nitrogen to the body per day varied as a rule from 0.5 to 2.0 grams. In one case only, viz., Broyles, was there a close approach to a balance. In his case there was a minus balance of only 0.12 gram of nitrogen per day.

The average daily output of nitrogen through the urine for this six-days period (Oakman’s case) was 7.52 grams.

OAKMAN.

_Tuesday, January 12, 1904._

Breakfast.—Fried Indian-meal 100 grams, syrup 50 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams, bread 50 grams, butter 15 grams.

Dinner.—Boiled macaroni 250 grams, stewed tomato 250 grams, bread 75 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams.

Supper.—Potato chips 100 grams, fried bacon 25 grams, bread 75 grams, jam 75 grams, one cup tea 350 grams.

Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.

Fried Indian-meal 100 × 0.38 = 0.380 gram. Syrup 50 × 0.051 = 0.025 Coffee (breakfast) 350 × 0.075 = 0.262 Butter 15 × 0.10 = 0.015 Macaroni 250 × 0.53 = 1.325 Stewed tomato 250 × 0.15 = 0.375 Bread 50 + 75 + 75 = 200 × 1.48 = 2.960 Potato chips 100 × 1.09 = 1.090 Bacon 25 × 3.13 = 0.780 Jam 75 × 0.039 = 0.029 Tea 350 × 0.067 = 0.234 Coffee (dinner) 350 × 0.091 = 0.318 ------ Total nitrogen in food 7.793 grams. Total nitrogen in urine 6.000

Fuel value of the food 2404 calories.

_Wednesday, January 13, 1904._

Breakfast.—Boiled rice 150 grams, milk 125 grams, sugar 30 grams, butter 10 grams, bread 30 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams.

Dinner.—Hamburg steak with plenty of bread, fat, and onions chopped together 150 grams, boiled potato 200 grams, apple sauce 200 grams, bread 75 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams.

Supper.—Fried rice 100 grams, syrup 50 grams, one cup tea 350 grams, bread 50 grams, butter 15 grams.

Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.

Boiled rice 150 × 0.36 = 0.540 grams. Milk 125 × 0.55 = 0.687 Sugar 30 × 0.00 = 0.000 Butter (breakfast) 10 × 0.10 = 0.010 Bread (breakfast) 30 × 1.66 = 0.498 Coffee (breakfast) 350 × 0.066 = 0.231 Hamburg steak, etc. 150 × 2.80 = 4.200 Potato 200 × 0.29 = 0.580 Apple sauce 200 × 0.067 = 0.134 Bread (dinner) 75 × 1.66 = 1.245 Coffee (dinner) 350 × 0.076 = 0.266 Fried rice 100 × 0.50 = 0.500 Syrup 50 × 0.051 = 0.025 Tea 350 × 0.066 = 0.231 Bread (supper) 50 × 1.66 = 0.830 Butter 15 × 0.10 = 0.015 ------ Total nitrogen in food 9.992 grams. Total nitrogen in urine 7.330

Fuel value of the food 2133 calories.

_Thursday, January 14, 1904._

Breakfast.—Boiled hominy 150 grams, milk 125 grams, sugar 30 grams, butter 10 grams, bread 30 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams.

Dinner.—Split pea soup (thick) 200 grams, bread 75 grams, mashed potato 100 grams, pickles 30 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams, pie 120 grams.

Supper.—Suet pudding 150 grams, apple sauce 125 grams, crackers 25 grams, one cup tea 350 grams.

Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.

Boiled hominy 150 × 0.21 = 0.315 gram. Milk 125 × 0.52 = 0.650 Sugar 30 × 0.00 = 0.000 Butter 10 × 0.10 = 0.010 Bread (breakfast) 30 × 1.59 = 0.477 Coffee (breakfast) 350 × 0.096 = 0.336 Split pea soup 200 × 0.69 = 1.380 Bread (dinner) 75 × 1.59 = 1.192 Mashed potato 100 × 0.31 = 0.310 Pickles 30 × 0.054 = 0.016 Coffee (dinner) 350 × 0.075 = 0.262 Pie 120 × 0.50 = 0.600 Suet pudding 150 × 0.78 = 1.170 Apple sauce 125 × 0.058 = 0.072 Crackers 25 × 1.61 = 0.402 Tea 350 × 0.063 = 0.220 ------ Total nitrogen in food 7.412 grams. Total nitrogen in urine 8.290

Fuel value of the food 2000 calories.

_Friday, January 15, 1904._

Breakfast.—Wheat griddle cakes 200 grams, syrup 50 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams.

Dinner.—Codfish-balls (4 parts potato, 1 part fish, fried in pork fat) 150 grams, stewed tomato 200 grams, bread 75 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams, apple pie 95 grams.

Supper.—Apple fritters 200 grams, stewed prunes 125 grams, bread 50 grams, butter 15 grams, one cup tea 350 grams.

Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.

Wheat griddle cakes 200 × 0.78 = 1.560 grams. Syrup 50 × 0.051 = 0.025 Coffee (breakfast) 350 × 0.075 = 0.262 Codfish-balls, etc. 150 × 1.77 = 2.655 Stewed tomato 200 × 0.14 = 0.280 Bread (dinner) 75 × 1.59 = 1.192 Coffee (dinner) 350 × 0.075 = 0.262 Apple pie 95 × 0.40 = 0.380 Apple fritters 200 × 0.40 = 0.800 Stewed prunes 125 × 0.15 = 0.187 Bread (supper) 50 × 1.59 = 0.795 Butter 15 × 0.10 = 0.015 Tea 350 × 0.042 = 0.147 ------ Total nitrogen in food 8.560 grams. Total nitrogen in urine 7.140

Fuel value of the food 2030 calories.

_Saturday, January 16, 1904._

Breakfast.—Soft oatmeal 150 grams, milk 100 grams, sugar 30 grams, bread 30 grams, butter 10 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams.

Dinner.—Baked macaroni with a little cheese 200 grams, stewed tomato 200 grams, bread 50 grams, tapioca-peach pudding 150 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams.

Supper.—French fried potato 100 grams, fried bacon 20 grams, bread 75 grams, jam 75 grams, one cup tea 350 grams.

Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.

Soft oatmeal 150 × 0.27 = 0.405 grams. Milk 100 × 0.44 = 0.440 Sugar 30 × 0.00 = 0.000 Bread (breakfast) 30 × 1.61 = 0.483 Butter 10 × 0.10 = 0.010 Coffee (breakfast) 350 × 0.075 = 0.262 Baked macaroni, etc. 200 × 0.72 = 1.440 Stewed tomatoes 200 × 0.15 = 0.300 Bread (dinner) 50 × 1.61 = 0.805 Tapioca-peach pudding 150 × 0.087 = 0.130 Coffee (dinner) 350 × 0.093 = 0.325 French fried potato 100 × 0.47 = 0.470 Fried bacon 20 × 3.15 = 0.630 Bread (supper) 75 × 1.61 = 1.207 Jam 75 × 0.039 = 0.029 Tea 350 × 0.099 = 0.346 ------ Total nitrogen in food 7.282 grams. Total nitrogen in urine 8.230

Fuel value of the food 1824 calories.

_Sunday, January 17, 1904._

Breakfast.—Boiled Indian-meal 125 grams, milk 125 grams, sugar 30 grams, butter 10 grams, bread 30 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams.

Dinner.—Bean soup (thick) 200 grams, bread 75 grams, mashed potato 100 grams, pickles 25 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams, custard pie 105 grams.

Supper.—Crackers 50 grams, butter 15 grams, stewed prunes 125 grams, sponge cake 100 grams, one cup tea 350 grams.

Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.

Boiled Indian-meal 125 × 0.24 = 0.300 grams. Milk 125 × 0.50 = 0.625 Sugar 30 × 0.00 = 0.000 Butter (breakfast) 10 × 0.10 = 0.010 Bread (breakfast) 30 × 1.61 = 0.483 Coffee (breakfast) 350 × 0.087 = 0.304 Bean soup 200 × 0.86 = 1.720 Bread (dinner) 75 × 1.61 = 1.207 Mashed potato 100 × 0.28 = 0.280 Pickles 25 × 0.054 = 0.013 Coffee (dinner) 350 × 0.081 = 0.283 Custard pie 105 × 0.88 = 0.924 Crackers 50 × 1.61 = 0.805 Butter (supper) 15 × 0.10 = 0.015 Stewed prunes 125 × 0.17 = 0.212 Sponge cake 100 × 1.00 = 1.000 Tea 350 × 0.048 = 0.168 ------ Total nitrogen in food 8.349 grams. Total nitrogen in urine 8.140

Fuel value of the food 2081 calories.

NITROGEN BALANCE.—_Oakman._

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

Jan. 12 7.793 grams. 6.00 grams. 13 9.992 7.33 14 7.412 8.29 5.0 grams. 15 8.560 7.14 76.0 16 7.282 8.23 13.5 17 8.349 8.14 9.5 ------ ------ ------ 104.0 grams contain 7.39% N. 49.388 45.13 + 7.685 grams nitrogen. ------ ---------------------- 49.388 grams nitrogen. 52.815 grams nitrogen.

Nitrogen balance for six days = -3.427 grams. Nitrogen balance per day = -0.571 gram.

Average Intake.

Calories per day 2078. Nitrogen per day 8.23 grams.

NITROGEN BALANCE.—_Loewenthal._

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

Jan. 12 7.793 grams. 7.33 grams. 13 9.992 7.64 21 grams. 14 7.388 6.21 26 15 8.560 8.18 52 16 7.282 7.92 37 17 8.349 7.26 11 ------ ------ ------ 147 grams contain 6.97% N. 49.364 44.54 + 10.24 grams nitrogen. ------ ---------------------- 49.364 grams nitrogen. 54.78 grams nitrogen.

Nitrogen balance for six days = -5.416 grams. Nitrogen balance per day = -0.902 gram.

Daily diet same as Oakman’s, except that a smaller amount of coffee was taken at breakfast on the 14th. Nitrogen correction made accordingly.

NITROGEN BALANCE.—_Steltz._

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

Jan. 12 7.793 grams. 4.61 grams. 15.0 grams. 13 9.463 7.90 34.0 14 7.412 4.99 21.0 15 8.560 9.05 31.5 16 7.282 7.56 33.0 17 8.349 8.55 18.0 ------ ------ ------ 152.5 grams contain 6.52% N. 48.859 42.66 + 9.94 grams nitrogen. ------ ---------------------- 48.859 grams nitrogen. 52.60 grams nitrogen.

Nitrogen balance for six days = -3.741 grams. Nitrogen balance per day = -0.623 gram.

Daily diet same as Oakman’s, except on January 13, when 8 grams of boiled rice were uneaten at breakfast and 100 grams of fried rice at supper. Correction in nitrogen-content made accordingly.

NITROGEN BALANCE.—_Bates._

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

Jan. 12 7.706 grams. 7.46 grams. 13 9.916 7.03 14 7.375 7.13 36 grams. 15 8.439 8.04 30 16 7.226 7.66 34 17 8.349 7.38 34 ------ ------ ------ 134 grams contain 7.17% N. 49.011 44.70 + 9.61 grams nitrogen. ------ ---------------------- 49.011 grams nitrogen. 54.31 grams nitrogen.

Nitrogen balance for six days = -5.299 grams. Nitrogen balance per day = -0.883 gram.

Daily diet same as Oakman’s, with the following exceptions: