In February 1910, three experiments were made in Boston with bananas only. One of the subjects had been used in two of the series of experiments previously considered.

F. M. M., February 8, 1910 (400 Grams Bananas, With A Fuel Value Of 406 Calories)

In the first two periods there were small increases in the carbon-dioxide production with essentially a basal metabolism in the last two periods. (See table 117.) A slight rise in the oxygen consumption in the first period was in large part compensated by values slightly less than basal in the last three periods. The same general picture was observed with the heat production. The respiratory quotients were very irregular, but no extraordinarily high values were obtained. No pronounced effect upon either the gaseous metabolism or the heat production as a result of the ingestion of bananas is apparent in this experiment.

Table 117. - F. M. M., February 8, 1910. Sitting. (1-Hour Periods). Bananas

Amount, 400 grams; nitrogen, 0.83 gram; total energy, 413 cals.

Fuel value: Total, 406 cals.; from protein, 5 p. ct.; from fat, 6 p. ct.; from carbohydrates, 89 p. ct. Nitrogen in urine, 0.46 gram per hour. Basal values (February 8, 1910): CO2, 25.5 grams; O2, 22.5 grams; heat,1 82 cals.; respiratory quotient, 0.83. Nitrogen in urine, 0.45 gram per hour.

1Heat eliminated corrected for change in body-weight, but not for change in body-temperature. 2Subject finished eating 17 minutes after the beginning of this period. The eating occupied 10 minutes.

Dr. H., February 14, 1910 (403 Grams Bananas, With A Fuel Value Of 409 Calories)

According to the data given in table 118, noticeable increases in the carbon-dioxide production, oxygen consumption, and computed heat production were found. The respiratory quotients were all above 0.90.

Table 118. - Dr. H., February 14, 1910. Sitting. (1-Hour Periods). Bananas

Amount, 403 grams; nitrogen, 0.83 gram; total energy, 416 cals.

Fuel value: Total, 409 cals.; from protein, 5 p. ct.; from fat, 6 p. ct.; from carbohydrates, 89 p. ct. Basal values (February 14, 1910): CO2, 22 grams; O2, 20 grams; heat (computed), 66 cals.; respiratory quotient, 0.81. Nitrogen in urine, 0.33 gram per hour.

1Subject finished eating 22 minutes after the beginning of this period. The eating occupied 14 minutes.

Dr. H., February 17, 1910 (397 Grams Bananas, With A Fuel Value Of 403 Calories)

There was a marked increase in the carbon-dioxide production in all of the four periods. (See table 119.) The oxygen consumption showed considerable irregularity, although the results as a whole indicated a definite increase. The computations of heat production also gave irregular results, but on the average showed a distinct increase. While this experiment can not be considered as a good duplicate of the experiment on February 14, yet they both imply . an increased metabolism as a result of eating bananas.

Table 119. - Dr. H., February 17, 1910. Sitting. (1-Hour Periods). Bananas

Amount, 397 grams; nitrogen, 0.83 gram; total energy, 410 cals.

Fuel value: Total, 403 cals.; from protein, 5 p. ct.; from fat, 6 p. ct.; from carbohydrates, 89 p. ct. Basal values (February 17, 1910): CO2, 21.5 grams; O2, 20.5 grams; heat (computed), 67 cals.; respiratory quotient, 0.77. Nitrogen in urine, 0.30 gram per hour.

1Subject finished eating 19 minutes after the beginning of this period. The eating occupied 10 minutes.