Nitrogen Output.
Taken in. Nitrogen in Urine. Weight of Fæces[33] (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.
_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
Fuel value of the food 1863 calories.
_Friday, June 24, 1904._
Breakfast.—Coffee 96 grams, sugar 8 grams, milk 32 grams.
Lunch.—Creamed codfish 89 grams, baked potato 95 grams, butter 10 grams,
hominy gems 58 grams, strawberries 86 grams, sugar 26 grams, ginger snaps
47 grams.
Dinner.—Cold tongue 14 grams, fried potato 48 grams, peas 60 grams, wheat
gems 30 grams, butter 11 grams, lettuce-orange salad with mayonnaise
dressing 155 grams, crackers 22 grams, cream cheese 14 grams, ginger
snaps 22 grams, coffee 58 grams, sugar 10 grams.
Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.
Coffee 123 + 53 = 176 × 0.045 = 0.079 gram.
Sugar 8 + 26 + 10 = 44 × 0.00 = 0.000
Milk 32 × 0.51 = 0.163
Creamed codfish 89 × 1.78 = 1.584
Baked potato 95 × 0.29 = 0.276
Butter 10 + 11 = 21 × 0.13 = 0.027
Hominy gems 58 × 1.20 = 0.696
Strawberries 86 × 0.11 = 0.095
Ginger snaps 47 + 22 = 69 × 1.15 = 0.794
Cold tongue 14 × 4.87 = 0.682
Fried potato 48 × 0.37 = 0.178
Peas 60 × 0.94 = 0.564
Wheat gems 30 × 1.45 = 0.435
Lettuce-orange salad, etc. 155 × 0.15 = 0.233
Crackers 22 × 1.40 = 0.308
Cream cheese 14 × 1.62 = 0.227
------
Total nitrogen in food 6.331 grams.
Total nitrogen in urine 5.300
Fuel value of the food 1506 calories.
_Saturday, June 25, 1904._
Breakfast.—Coffee 101 grams, milk 36 grams, sugar 13 grams.
Lunch.—Omelette 50 grams, bacon 9 grams, French fried potato 23 grams,
biscuit 29 grams, butter 8 grams, cream cheese 17 grams, iced tea 150
grams, sugar 15 grams, ginger snaps 42 grams.
Dinner.—Wheat popovers 57 grams, butter 10 grams, lettuce-orange salad
with mayonnaise dressing 147 grams, cream cheese 21 grams, crackers 22
grams, cottage pudding 82 grams, coffee 48 grams, sugar 11 grams.
Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.
Coffee 1201 + 48 = 149 × 0.045 = 0.067 gram.
Milk 36 × 0.46 = 0.166
Sugar 13 + 15 + 11 = 39 × 0.00 = 0.000
Omelette 50 × 1.42 = 0.710
Bacon 9 × 2.66 = 0.239
French fried potato 23 × 0.57 = 0.131
Biscuit 29 × 1.35 = 0.392
Butter 8 + 10 = 18 × 0.13 = 0.023
Iced tea 150 × 0.018 = 0.027
Ginger snaps 42 × 1.15 = 0.483
Cream cheese 17 + 21 = 38 × 1.62 = 0.616
Wheat popovers 57 × 1.64 = 0.935
Lettuce-orange salad 147 × 0.15 = 0.221
Crackers 22 × 1.40 = 0.308
Cottage pudding 82 × 0.76 = 0.623
------
Total nitrogen in food 4.941 grams.
Total nitrogen in urine 4.430
Fuel value of the food 1392 calories.
_Sunday, June 26, 1904._
Breakfast.—Coffee 122 grams, cream 31 grams, sugar 8 grams.
Dinner.—Roast lamb 50 grams, baked potato 52 grams, peas 64 grams,
biscuit 32 grams, butter 12 grams, lettuce salad 43 grams, cream cheese
21 grams, toasted crackers 23 grams, blanc mange 164 grams.
Supper.—Iced tea 225 grams, sugar 29 grams, lettuce sandwich 51 grams,
strawberries 130 grams, sugar 22 grams, cream 40 grams, sponge cake 31
grams.
Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.
Coffee 122 × 0.045 = 0.055 gram.
Cream 31 + 40 = 71 × 0.32 = 0.227
Sugar 8 + 26 + 10 = 44 × 0.00 = 0.000
Roast lamb 50 × 4.28 = 2.140
Baked potato 52 × 0.29 = 0.151
Peas 64 × 1.04 = 0.666
Biscuit 32 × 1.35 = 0.432
Butter 12 × 0.13 = 0.016
Lettuce salad 43 × 0.23 = 0.099
Cream cheese 21 × 1.62 = 0.340
Toasted crackers 23 × 1.36 = 0.313
Blanc mange 164 × 0.35 = 0.574
Iced tea 225 × 0.018 = 0.041
Lettuce sandwich 51 × 0.85 = 0.434
Strawberries 130 × 0.11 = 0.143
Sponge cake 31 × 0.94 = 0.291
------
Total nitrogen in food 5.922 grams.
Total nitrogen in urine 4.660
Fuel value of the food 1533 calories.
_Monday, June 27, 1904._
Breakfast.—Coffee 112 grams, cream 22 grams, sugar 10 grams.
Lunch.—Roast lamb 9 grams, baked potato 90 grams, wheat gems 47 grams,
butter 12 grams, sugar 25 grams, iced tea 250 grams, vanilla éclair 47
grams.
Dinner.—Lamb chop 32 grams, asparagus 49 grams, butter 17 grams, creamed
potato 107 grams, bread 35 grams, lettuce-orange salad with mayonnaise
dressing 150 grams, cream cheese 12 grams, crackers 21 grams, coffee 63
grams, sugar 9 grams.
Food. Grams. Per cent Nitrogen. Total Nitrogen.
Coffee 123 + 53 = 176 × 0.045 = 0.079 gram.
Cream 22 × 0.32 = 0.070
Sugar 10 + 25 + 9 = 44 × 0.00 = 0.000
Iced tea 250 × 0.018 = 0.045
Baked potato 90 × 0.25 = 0.225
Wheat gems 47 × 1.65 = 0.776
Butter 12 + 17 = 29 × 0.13 = 0.038
Roast lamb 9 × 4.28 = 0.385
Vanilla éclair 47 × 0.85 = 0.400
Lamb chops 32 × 4.57 = 1.462
Asparagus 49 × 0.59 = 0.289
Creamed potato 107 × 0.40 = 0.428
Bread 35 × 1.33 = 0.466
Lettuce-orange salad, etc. 150 × 0.23 = 0.345
Cream cheese 12 × 1.62 = 0.194
Crackers 21 × 1.35 = 0.284
------
Total nitrogen in food 5.486 grams.
Total nitrogen in urine 4.980
Fuel value of the food 1454 calories.