Certain general conclusions seem to be justified by the results reported.
A healthy man, whose occupation is such as not to involve excessive
muscular work, but whose activity is mainly mental rather than physical,
though by no means excluding the latter, can live on a much smaller
amount of proteid or albuminous food than is usually considered essential
for life, without loss of mental or physical strength and vigor, and
with maintenance of body and nitrogen equilibrium. This means that the
ordinary professional man who leads an active and even strenuous life,
with its burden of care and responsibility, need not clog his system
and inhibit his power for work by the ingestion of any such quantities
of proteid food as the ordinary dietetic standards call for. There is
no real physiological need—that is apparent—for the adoption of such
dietetic habits as ordinarily prevail, or as are called for by the
dietary standards set by most authorities in this branch of physiology.
There is no justifiable ground for the dictum, or the assumption, that
the adult man of average body-weight needs daily 118 grams of proteid
food for the maintenance of health, strength and vigor, or that there
is need for the metabolism of at least 16 grams of nitrogen daily. If
such were the case, how could these five subjects, whose experiences
have been detailed in the foregoing pages, have maintained their
body-weight, established nitrogen equilibrium, pursued their ordinary
vocations without loss of strength and vigor, and kept in a perpetual
condition of good health, with an average daily metabolism of from 5.4
grams of nitrogen to 8.99 grams of nitrogen for periods ranging from six
to eighteen months? Surely, if 16 to 18 grams of nitrogen are a daily
requisite for the healthy adult, there should have been some sign of
nitrogen starvation during these long periods of low proteid diet, but
the sharpest scrutiny failed to find it. On the contrary, there were not
wanting signs of improved conditions of the body which could not well be
associated with anything but the changes in diet.
Let us briefly consider the main facts. The writer, of 57 kilos
body-weight, showed for nearly nine consecutive months an average daily
metabolism of 5.7 grams of nitrogen. During the last two months the
daily metabolism averaged 5.4 grams of nitrogen. As body-weight and
nitrogen equilibrium were both maintained under these conditions, it is
certainly fair to assume that the physiological needs of the body were
fully met. These figures imply a metabolism, in the first instance, of
0.1 gram of nitrogen per kilo of body-weight, while the lower figure
shows a metabolism of 0.094 gram of nitrogen per kilo of body-weight. We
may call this latter amount the minimal nitrogen requirement for this
particular individual, under which health, strength, and vigor can be
fully maintained. This lower nitrogen figure shows that the needs of
this particular individual for proteid material are met by the metabolism
of 33.75 grams of proteid per day. Hence, one-third the usually accepted
standard of proteid is quite sufficient for the wants of this particular
person, and this too with a quantity of non-nitrogenous food far below
the daily amount called for by ordinary physiological rules. A fuel value
of 2000 calories per day was fully adequate to meet the ordinary wants of
the body.
Dr. Mendel, with a body-weight of 70 kilos, showed for seven consecutive
months an average daily metabolism of 6.53 grams of nitrogen, likewise
with maintenance of health, strength, body equilibrium, and nitrogenous
equilibrium. This figure implies a nitrogen metabolism of 0.093 gram per
kilo of body-weight and shows that the wants of the body—in his case—can
be fully met by a metabolism of 40.8 grams of proteid matter daily, and
this likewise without increasing the amount of non-nitrogenous food
ingested. Indeed, a total fuel value of 2500 calories per day was quite
sufficient for all the needs of his body under the existing conditions.
Dr. Underhill, with a body-weight of 65 kilos, showed for six consecutive
months a proteid metabolism equal to 7.81 grams of nitrogen per day,
while for the last two months the daily average excretion of nitrogen was
only 6.68 grams. These figures mean respectively a nitrogen metabolism
of 0.120 and 0.102 gram of nitrogen per kilo of body-weight. Here, too,
as in the preceding cases, this lowered rate of proteid metabolism was
maintained without increasing the total fuel value of the food and with a
continuance of health and strength.
Messrs. Dean and Beers, with body-weights of 64 and 61.5 kilos
respectively, likewise kept up their health and strength for a long
period of time with a nitrogen metabolism averaging 8.99 and 8.58 grams
of nitrogen per day, _i. e._, with a metabolism of 0.140 and 0.139 gram
of nitrogen per kilo of body-weight respectively, and this with a total
fuel value in their daily food averaging not more than 2500 calories.
With this general concurrence of results, we are certainly warranted
in the assertion that the professional man can safely practise a
physiological economy in the use of proteid food equal to a saving
of one-half to two-thirds the amount called for by existing dietary
standards, and this without increasing the amount of non-nitrogenous food
consumed. Indeed, the latter class of foods can likewise be diminished
in amount without detriment to health or strength, where there is no
call for great physical exertion. Lastly, the so-called minimal proteid
requirement of the healthy man—which for this group of individuals we
may place at the low level of 0.093 to 0.130 gram of nitrogen per kilo
of body-weight—represents the real physiological needs of the system for
nitrogen, and in so far as our present data show, anything beyond this
quantity may be considered as an excess over and above what is required
for the actual physiological necessities of the body. Naturally, however,
there may be nothing detrimental in a slight excess of proteid beyond
the daily needs. That is a subject, however, to be discussed later in
connection with other results.
In view of the close agreement in the amount of nitrogen metabolized by
these different individuals per kilo of body-weight, emphasis should
be laid upon the fact that the results recorded were all obtained with
perfect freedom of choice in the matter of diet, without prescription
of any kind, so that the close concurrence in the final figures tends
to strengthen the value of the data as pointing to a certain minimal
requirement easily attainable, and fully adequate for meeting the needs
of the body.
II. EXPERIMENTS WITH VOLUNTEERS FROM THE HOSPITAL CORPS OF THE UNITED
STATES ARMY.
The original Detachment from the Hospital Corps of the United States
Army detailed to serve in this series of experiments arrived in New
Haven September 28, 1903, under the command of Dr. Wallace DeWitt, 1st
Lieutenant and assistant Surgeon of the United States Army. The detail
was composed of twenty men, of whom fourteen were privates, volunteers
for the experiment, the remainder being made up of non-commissioned
officers, cook, cook’s helper, etc. The detachment was located in
a convenient house on Vanderbilt Square belonging to the Sheffield
Scientific School, and there they lived during their six months’ stay
in New Haven under military discipline, and subject to the constant
surveillance of the commanding officer and the non-commissioned officers.
In selecting the men for the experiment particular attention was paid to
securing as great a variety of types as possible, representing different
nationalities, temperaments, etc. Naturally, among such a group of
enlisted men brought together for the purpose in view many were found
unsuited for various reasons, and were quickly exchanged for others
better adapted for the successful carrying out of the experiment. Several
quickly deserted, apparently not relishing the restrictions under which
they were compelled to live. The restriction which constituted the
greatest hardship in the eyes of several of the men was the regularity
of life insisted upon, and the consequent restraint placed upon their
movements in the city when relieved from duty. The following Statement
from Dr. DeWitt will explain the causes of removal of the men who dropped
out of the experiment during the natural sifting process of the first few
weeks and later.
HOSPITAL CORPS DETACHMENT U. S. ARMY,
332 TEMPLE ST., NEW HAVEN, CONN.,
March 17, 1904.
Professor RUSSELL H. CHITTENDEN, _Director Sheffield Scientific
School_, NEW HAVEN, CONN.
SIR,—In compliance with your verbal request concerning men of
this detachment lost by transfer and desertion and the reasons
therefor, I have the honor to inform you that the following men
were lost by transfer, at my request, for the reasons set after
their respective names:
Private EDWARD MCDERMOTT (October 17, 1903). Mentally and
morally unsuited.
Private PAUL FORKEL (October 18, 1903). Physically unsuited.
Private DAVID ACKER (October 24, 1903). Physically unsuited by
reason of Acute Pulmonary Tuberculosis Bilateral.
Private WILLIAM C. WITZIG (November 17, 1903). Physically
unsuited by reason of Cardiac Irritability.
Private PHILIP S. MYER (December 11, 1903). Physically unsuited
by reason of very high grade of Myopia both eyes.
Private first class CHARLES P. DAVIS (January 14, 1904).
Physically unsuited by reason of Acute Melancholia.
Private BARNARD BATES (February 12, 1904). Morally and mentally
unsuited by reason of Drunkenness.
In all these men, except Private DAVIS, the condition for which
they were transferred was present when they reported for duty
with the detachment.
In the case of Private DAVIS, his condition of acute
melancholia in my opinion was incident to the experiment,—due
to the necessary restrictions of liberty and food, assisted by
a natural gloomy disposition.
The following men were lost by desertion:
Private first class SAMUEL R. CURTIS (November 3, 1903).
Private first class WILLIAM SMITH (November 5, 1903).
Private SIMON PRINS (January 23, 1904).
Private EDWIN A. RINARD (February 3, 1904).
Of these men Private first class Smith and Private Prins
were on duty in the kitchen and were at no time subject to
restriction of diet and liberty. Private first class Curtis
deserted before the experiment was well under way and can not
be attributed to any cause arising out of the investigation.
Private Rinard’s desertion was in my opinion due to the
restrictions of diet and liberty incident to the experiment. I
would say, however, that this man was a worthless character and
was discharged “without honor” from the army during a previous
enlistment.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) WALLACE DEWITT,
_1st Lieut. and Asst. Surgeon U. S. Army, Commdg. Detachment._
As supplementing Dr. DeWitt’s statement it may be mentioned that Rinard
reported for the experiment at New Haven on December 11, 1903, and
remained here until February 2, 1904. On December 11 he weighed 59.8
kilos, while on February 2, the last day he was here, his body-weight was
60 kilos. Evidently, any restriction of diet he may have suffered had not
made any great impression upon his bodily condition.
There were thirteen men of the detachment who really took part in the
experiment, and of these all but four were in the original detail. Of
these four, two joined in October and two early in November. Of these
thirteen, all but two continued to the close of the experiment, April 4,
1904.
The following statement gives the name, age, birthplace, occupation,
length of service (U. S. Army), etc. of the thirteen men.
It will be noted that the men range in age from twenty-one years six
months to forty-three years, and that representatives of many countries
are on the list.
Regarding the duties of the men, _i. e._, their daily work, the following
statement from Dr. DeWitt will give all needed information on this point.
The character of the Gymnasium work will be referred to later.
+----------------------+------------+-------------+---------------------+
| |Age on |Length of | |
| |Oct. 1, 1903|Service on | |
| Name. |(Years and |Oct. 1, 1903.| Birthplace. |
| |Months). |(Years and | |
| | |Months). | |
+----------------------+------------+-------------+---------------------+
|_Private first class._| | | |
| | | | |
|Broyles, Jonah | 24-6 | 3-3 |Campbell Co., Tenn. |
|Coffman, William E. | 22-1 | 0-2 |Edinsburg, W. Va. |
|Fritz, Charles J. | 27-8 | 3-0 |Switzerland. |
|Henderson, James D. | 25-1 | 2-0 |Marshall, N. C. |
|Loewenthal, Maurice D.| 22-8 | 0-2 |New York, N. Y. |
|Morris, William | 21-6 | 3-8 |San Juan, P. R. |
|Oakman, William H. | 43-0 | 1-7 |Blackville, S. C. |
|Sliney, William F. | 26-7 | 5-0 |Roxbury, Mass. |
|Steltz, John J. B. | 23-1 | 0-3 |Schuylkill, Pa. |
|Zooman, Ben | 25-3 | 1-11 |London, Eng. |
| | | | |
| _Private._ | | | |
| | | | |
|Cohn, Isaac | 21-8 | 0-1 |Jerusalem, Pal. |
| | | | |
| TRANSFERRED. | | | |
| | | | |
|_Private first class._| | | |
| | | | |
|Davis, Charles P. | 27-0 | 0-2 |Darlington Co. S. C. |
| | | | |
| _Private._ | | | |
| | | | |
|Bates, Barnard | 26-8 | 1-10 |San Francisco, Cal. |
| | | | |
+----------------------+------------+-------------+---------------------+
+----------------------+---------------------+-----------------------+
| | | |
| | | |
| Name. |Occupation before | Remarks. |
| |Original Enlistment. | |
| | | |
+----------------------+---------------------+-----------------------+
|_Private first class._| | |
| | | |
|Broyles, Jonah | Scholar | Joined Nov. 13, 1903. |
|Coffman, William E. | Clerk | Joined Sept. 28, 1903.|
|Fritz, Charles J. | Gasfitter | Joined Oct. 30, 1903. |
|Henderson, James D. | Student | Joined Sept. 28, 1903.|
|Loewenthal, Maurice D.| Clerk | Joined Sept. 28, 1903.|
|Morris, William | Scholar | Joined Sept. 28, 1903.|
|Oakman, William H. | Bookkeeper | Joined Sept. 28, 1903.|
|Sliney, William F. | Painter | Joined Oct. 21, 1903. |
|Steltz, John J. B. | Painter | Joined Sept. 28, 1903.|
|Zooman, Ben | Hosp. Orderly | Joined Sept. 28, 1903.|
| | | |
| _Private._ | | |
| | | |
|Cohn, Isaac | Porter in Drug store| Joined Nov. 13, 1903. |
| | | |
| TRANSFERRED. | | |
| | | |
|_Private first class._| | |
| | | |
|Davis, Charles P. | Machinist | Joined Sept. 28, 1903;|
| | | left Jan. 14, 1904. |
| _Private._ | | |
| | | |
|Bates, Barnard | Painter |Joined Sept. 28, 1903; |
| | | left Feb. 12, 1904. |
+----------------------+---------------------+-----------------------+
HOSPITAL CORPS DETACHMENT U. S. ARMY,
332 TEMPLE STREET, NEW HAVEN, CONN.,
March 17, 1904.
Professor R. H. CHITTENDEN, _Director Sheffield Scientific
School_, NEW HAVEN, CONN.
SIR,—In compliance with your verbal request I have the honor to
inform you that the duties of this detachment during the tour
of duty at this station have been as follows:—
At 6.45 A. M. the men arise and their body-weights are taken
immediately, after which they dress and assemble for reveille
roll-call.
7.15. Breakfast. After this meal they are all engaged in
various duties about the quarters, such as inside and outside
police, kitchen police, assisting in measurement of urine
and fæces and transportation of the same to the laboratory;
cleansing of fæces cans and urine bottles, etc. They are
occupied with these various duties until about 9 A. M.
9 A. M. Detachment proceeds to Gymnasium under charge of a
non-commissioned officer, and by him reported to the gymnastic
instructor.