In addition to the calorimeter experiments in which beefsteak alone was eaten, a number of experiments were made in which the diet included small amounts of bread or potato chips. The fact that these small quantities of other food materials were taken will not, however, materially interfere with the use of the results for comparison with those obtained when only beefsteak was given. Emphasis has already been laid upon the fact that the beefsteak was by no means a pure protein material and contained a relatively large amount of fat, approximately 30 to 40 per cent of the fuel value in most of the experiments previously discussed being derived from this substance. The chair calorimeter in Boston was used in all of the experiments but one, the exception being an experiment with beefsteak and potato chips in which the bed calorimeter was used.

Beefsteak And Bread

Three calorimeter experiments with beefsteak and bread were made, all with one subject. Approximately 200 to 250 grams of beefsteak were taken with 24 to 50 grams of bread. The statistical data regarding these experiments, not included in the tables or in the discussion, are given in the following paragraphs:

F. M. M., 10h44m A. M. To 3h44m P. M., January 11,1910. 60.4 Kilograms

Moved about considerably in first period and at end of period was swinging back and forth in chair. Urinated 7h30m a. m., 10h20m a. m., 3h25m p. m. Body-temperature: 36.76°, 36.71°, 36.85°, 36.86°, 36.83°, 36.99° C.

F. M. M., 9h28m A. M. To 2h28m P. M., January 12, 1910

Nitrogen in urine per hour 7h30m a. m. to 12h57m p. m., 0.86 gram.

F. M. M., 9h24m A. M. To 2h24m P. M., January 14, 1910

Subject in nervous and depressed condition before entering apparatus from causes having no connection with experiment. Nitrogen in urine per hour 7h40m a. m. to lh36m p. m., 0.74 gram; lh36m p. m. to 2h35m p. m., 0.78 gram.

Discussion Of Experiments

F. M. M., January 11,1910

The results of the experiment on this date are recorded in table 207. The food taken consisted of 246 grams of beefsteak and 50 grams of bread, with a nitrogen content of 10.70 grams. But one collection of urine was made for the experimental period, the nitrogen excretion being 0.52 gram per hour. The increment in carbon-dioxide production in the first 4 hours of this 5-hour experiment was considerable. Both the oxygen consumption and heat production were likewise above the basal requirements. A total increment of 13.5 grams was found in both carbon-dioxide production and oxygen consumption, and in heat production of 44 calories. While in all probability the addition to the diet of the small amount of carbohydrate in bread affected slightly the carbon-dioxide production, nevertheless the ingestion of the beefsteak was undoubtedly the main cause of the increment noted with all three factors.

Table 207. - F. M. M., January 11, 1910. Sitting, (1-Hour Periods). Beefsteak And Bread

Amounts, 246 grams beefsteak, 50 grams bread; nitrogen, 10.79 grams; total energy, 574 cals.

Fuel value: Total, 480 cals.; from protein, 58 p. ct.; from fat, 20 p. ct.; from carbohydrates, 22 p. ct.

Nitrogen in urine, 0.52 gram per hour.1 Basal values (January 31 to February 19, 1910): CO2, 26.5 grams; O2, 23 grams; heat,2 80 cals.

1Nitrogen in an earlier sample for one-half hour before food and 2 1/4 hours after food was 1.11 grams per hour.

2Heat eliminated corrected for change in body-weight, but not for change in body-temperature.

F. M. M., January 12, 1910

The amounts of both beefsteak and bread eaten before this experiment were somewhat smaller than on the previous day, being 199 grams and 38 grams, respectively, with a nitrogen content of 8.91 grams. There was a marked increase in the carbon-dioxide production in the first two periods, which was possibly due in part to the carbohydrate material. The significant increase in the oxygen consumption and heat production also occurred in the first two periods. It would appear, therefore, from this experiment that the influence of the beefsteak and bread upon the metabolism was practically at an end at the conclusion of the second 1-hour period. The nitrogen excretion was measurably greater than in the first experiment of the series, indicating a larger katabolism of protein. The results of the experiment are given in table 208.