Sunday, March 20, 1904
Breakfast, 7.45 A. M.—One cup coffee, i. e., coffee 137.5 grams, cream 30.5 grams, sugar 9 grams.
Dinner, 1.30 P. M.—Stewed chicken 50 grams, mashed potato 131 grams, biscuit 49 grams, butter 13 grams, chocolate pudding 106 grams, one small cup coffee, i. e., coffee 64 grams, sugar 12 grams, cheese crackers 29 grams.
Supper, 6.30 P. M.—Lettuce sandwiches 56 grams, biscuit 35 grams, butter 6 grams, one cup tea, i. e., tea 170 grams, sugar 7 grams, sponge cake 47 grams, sliced oranges 82 grams.
| Food. | Grams. | Per cent Nitrogen. | Total Nitrogen. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 64 + 137 = | 201.5 | × | 0.042 | = | 0.085 | gram. |
| Cream | 30.5 | × | 0.41 | = | 0.125 | ||
| Sugar | 12 + 9 + 7 = | 28.0 | × | 0.00 | = | 0.000 | |
| Chicken | 50.0 | × | 4.70 | = | 2.350 | ||
| Mashed potato | 131.0 | × | 0.30 | = | 0.393 | ||
| Biscuit | 35 + 49 = | 84.0 | × | 1.49 | = | 1.251 | |
| Butter | 13 + 6 = | 19.0 | × | 0.10 | = | 0.019 | |
| Chocolate pudding | 106.0 | × | 0.86 | = | 0.911 | ||
| Cheese crackers | 29.0 | × | 2.54 | = | 0.737 | ||
| Lettuce sandwich | 56.0 | × | 0.92 | = | 0.515 | ||
| Tea | 170.0 | × | 0.048 | = | 0.082 | ||
| Sponge cake | 47.0 | × | 0.98 | = | 0.461 | ||
| Sliced orange | 82.0 | × | 0.073 | = | 0.060 | ||
| Total nitrogen in food | 6.989 | grams. | |||||
| Total nitrogen in urine | 5.910 | ||||||
Fuel value of the food 1708 calories.32
Monday, March 21, 1904.
Breakfast, 7.45 A. M.—Coffee 119 grams, cream 30 grams, sugar 9 grams.
Lunch, 1.30 P. M.—One shredded wheat biscuit 31 grams, cream 116 grams, wheat gems 33 grams, butter 7 grams, tea 185 grams, sugar 10 grams, cream cake 53 grams.
Dinner, 6.30 P. M.—Pea soup 114 grams, lamb chop 24 grams, boiled sweet potato 47 grams, wheat gems 76 grams, butter 13 grams, cream cake 52 grams, coffee 61 grams, sugar 10 grams, cheese crackers 16 grams.
| Food. | Grams. | Per cent Nitrogen. | Total Nitrogen. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 119 + 61 = | 180 | × | 0.042 | = | 0.076 | gram. |
| Cream | 30 + 116 = | 146 | × | 0.41 | = | 0.600 | |
| Sugar | 9 + 10 + 10 = | 29 | × | 0.00 | = | 0.000 | |
| Shredded wheat biscuit | 31 | × | 1.62 | = | 0.502 | ||
| Tea | 185 | × | 0.048 | = | 0.089 | ||
| Wheat gems | 33 + 76 = | 109 | × | 1.46 | = | 1.591 | |
| Butter | 7 + 13 = | 20 | × | 0.10 | = | 0.020 | |
| Cream cake | 53 + 52 = | 105 | × | 0.97 | = | 1.018 | |
| Pea soup | 114 | × | 1.00 | = | 1.140 | ||
| Lamb chop | 24 | × | 4.54 | = | 1.090 | ||
| Sweet potato | 47 | × | 0.18 | = | 0.085 | ||
| Cheese crackers | 16 | × | 2.54 | = | 0.410 | ||
| Total nitrogen in food | 6.621 | grams. | |||||
| Total nitrogen in urine | 5.520 | ||||||
Fuel value of the food 1713 calories.
Tuesday, March 22, 1904.
Breakfast, 7.45 A. M.—Coffee 97 grams, cream 26 grams, sugar 9 grams.
Lunch, 1.30 P. M.—Baked potato 83 grams, fried sausage 36 grams, soda biscuit 39 grams, butter 12 grams, tea 137 grams, sugar 10 grams, cream meringue 59 grams.
Dinner, 6.30 P. M.—Chicken broth 146 grams, bread 52 grams, butter 15 grams, creamed potato 76 grams, custard 76 grams, coffee 50 grams, sugar 11 grams, cheese crackers 10 grams.
| Food. | Grams. | Per cent Nitrogen. | Total Nitrogen. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 97 + 50 = | 147 | × | 0.042 | = | 0.060 | gram. |
| Cream | 26 | × | 0.42 | = | 0.109 | ||
| Sugar | 9 + 10 + 11 = | 30 | × | 0.00 | = | 0.000 | |
| Baked potato | 83 | × | 0.40 | = | 0.332 | ||
| Fried sausage | 36 | × | 3.06 | = | 1.101 | ||
| Soda biscuit | 39 | × | 1.66 | = | 0.647 | ||
| Butter | 12 + 15 = | 27 | × | 0.10 | = | 0.027 | |
| Tea | 137 | × | 0.048 | = | 0.066 | ||
| Cream meringue | 59 | × | 0.92 | = | 0.543 | ||
| Chicken broth | 146 | × | 0.78 | = | 1.138 | ||
| Bread | 52 | × | 1.66 | = | 0.863 | ||
| Creamed potato | 76 | × | 0.42 | = | 0.319 | ||
| Custard | 76 | × | 0.82 | = | 0.623 | ||
| Cheese crackers | 10 | × | 2.54 | = | 0.254 | ||
| Total nitrogen in food | 6.082 | grams. | |||||
| Total nitrogen in urine | 5.940 | ||||||
Fuel value of the food 1398 calories.
Wednesday, March 23, 1904.
Breakfast, 7.45 A. M.—Coffee 103 grams, cream 30 grams, sugar 10 grams.
Lunch, 1.30 P. M.—Creamed codfish 64 grams, potato balls 54 grams, biscuit 44 grams, butter 22 grams, tea 120 grams, sugar 10 grams, wheat griddle cakes 133 grams, maple syrup 108 grams.
Dinner, 6.30 P. M.—Creamed potato 85 grams, biscuit 53 grams, butter 15 grams, apple-celery-lettuce salad 50 grams, apple pie 127 grams, coffee 67 grams, sugar 8 grams, cheese crackers 17 grams.
| Food. | Grams. | Per cent Nitrogen. | Total Nitrogen. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 103 + 67 = | 170 | × | 0.042 | = | 0.071 | gram. |
| Sugar | 10 + 10 + 8 = | 28 | × | 0.00 | = | 0.000 | |
| Cream | 30 | × | 0.43 | = | 0.129 | ||
| Potato balls | 54 | × | 0.68 | = | 0.367 | ||
| Creamed codfish | 64 | × | 1.26 | = | 0.806 | ||
| Biscuit | 44 + 53 = | 97 | × | 1.66 | = | 1.610 | |
| Butter | 22 + 15 = | 37 | × | 0.10 | = | 0.037 | |
| Tea | 120 | × | 0.048 | = | 0.058 | ||
| Wheat griddle cakes | 133 | × | 1.32 | = | 1.760 | ||
| Maple syrup | 108 | × | 0.019 | = | 0.021 | ||
| Creamed potato | 85 | × | 0.53 | = | 0.450 | ||
| Cheese crackers | 17 | × | 2.54 | = | 0.431 | ||
| Apple-celery salad | 50 | × | 0.20 | = | 0.100 | ||
| Apple pie | 127 | × | 0.75 | = | 0.953 | ||
| Total nitrogen in food | 6.793 | grams. | |||||
| Total nitrogen in urine | 5.610 | ||||||
Fuel value of the food 1984 calories.
Thursday, March 24, 1904.
Breakfast, 7.45 A. M.—Coffee 100 grams, cream 25 grams, sugar 8 grams.
Lunch, 1.30 P. M.—Shredded wheat biscuit 29 grams, cream 118 grams, wheat gems 60 grams, butter 8 grams, tea 100 grams, sugar 7 grams, apple pie 102 grams.
Dinner, 6.30 P. M.—Milk-celery soup 140 grams, bread 15 grams, butter 1 gram, lettuce sandwiches 62 grams, tea 100 grams, sugar 10 grams, lemon pie 109 grams.
| Food. | Grams. | Per cent Nitrogen. | Total Nitrogen. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 100 | × | 0.042 | = | 0.042 | gram. | |
| Cream | 25 + 118 = | 143 | × | 0.43 | = | 0.615 | |
| Sugar | 8 + 7 + 10 = | 25 | × | 0.00 | = | 0.000 | |
| Shredded wheat biscuit | 29 | × | 1.76 | = | 0.510 | ||
| Wheat gems | 60 | × | 1.17 | = | 0.702 | ||
| Butter | 8 + 1 = | 9 | × | 0.10 | = | 0.009 | |
| Tea | 100 + 100 = | 200 | × | 0.048 | = | 0.096 | |
| Apple pie | 102 | × | 0.75 | = | 0.765 | ||
| Milk-celery soup | 140 | × | 0.42 | = | 0.588 | ||
| Bread | 15 | × | 1.36 | = | 0.204 | ||
| Lettuce sandwich | 62 | × | 1.02 | = | 0.632 | ||
| Lemon pie | 109 | × | 0.82 | = | 0.894 | ||
| Total nitrogen in food | 5.057 | grams. | |||||
| Total nitrogen in urine | 4.310 | ||||||
Fuel value of the food 1594 calories.
Friday, March 25, 1904.
Breakfast, 7.45 A. M.—Coffee 100 grams, cream 25 grams, sugar 9 grams.
Lunch, 1.30 P. M.—Halibut with egg sauce 108 grams, mashed potato 89 grams, biscuit 48 grams, butter 10 grams, chocolate-cream cake 90 grams, tea 100 grams, sugar 9 grams.
Dinner, 6.30 P. M.—Milk-celery soup 121 grams, lettuce sandwiches 61 grams, creamed potato 65 grams, lettuce-apple-celery salad 74 grams, coffee 70 grams, sugar 10 grams.
| Food. | Grams. | Per cent Nitrogen. | Total Nitrogen. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 100 + 70 = | 170 | × | 0.042 | = | 0.071 | gram. |
| Cream | 25 | × | 0.40 | = | 0.100 | ||
| Sugar | 9 + 9 + 10 = | 28 | × | 0.00 | = | 0.000 | |
| Halibut, etc. | 108 | × | 3.02 | = | 3.262 | ||
| Mashed potato | 89 | × | 0.26 | = | 0.231 | ||
| Biscuit | 48 | × | 1.52 | = | 0.730 | ||
| Butter | 10 | × | 0.10 | = | 0.010 | ||
| Tea | 100 | × | 0.048 | = | 0.048 | ||
| Chocolate-cream cake | 90 | × | 0.99 | = | 0.891 | ||
| Celery-milk soup | 121 | × | 0.52 | = | 0.629 | ||
| Lettuce sandwich | 61 | × | 0.98 | = | 0.598 | ||
| Lettuce-apple salad | 74 | × | 0.21 | = | 0.155 | ||
| Creamed potato | 65 | × | 0.37 | = | 0.241 | ||
| Total nitrogen in food | 6.966 | grams. | |||||
| Total nitrogen in urine | 5.390 | ||||||
Fuel value of the food 1285 calories.
NITROGEN BALANCE.—Chittenden.
| Nitrogen Taken in. | Output. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen in Urine. | Weight of Fæces33 (dry). | ||||||
| March | 20 | 6.989 | grams. | 5.91 | grams. | 3.6 | grams. |
| 21 | 6.621 | 5.52 | 0.0 | ||||
| 22 | 6.082 | 5.94 | 12.0 | ||||
| 23 | 6.793 | 5.61 | 18.5 | ||||
| 24 | 5.057 | 4.31 | 23.0 | ||||
| 25 | 6.966 | 5.39 | 16.9 | ||||
| 74.0 | grams contain 6.42% N. | ||||||
| 38.508 | 32.68 | + | 4.75 | grams nitrogen. | |||
| 38.508 | grams nitrogen. | 37.43 | grams nitrogen. | ||||
| Nitrogen balance for six days | = | +1.078 | grams. |
| Nitrogen balance per day | = | +0.179 | gram. |
Average Intake.
| Calories per day | 1613. |
| Nitrogen per day | 6.40 grams. |
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.