F. M. M., December 10,1908

A somewhat smaller amount of beefsteak was taken by this subject than that taken by the subject of the preceding experiment, the amount in this case being 217 grams, with a nitrogen content of 9.97 grams. As in the experiment with J. R., the urine was collected every 2 hours. The results of the experiments are given in table 203, from which it is seen that the increase in carbon-dioxide production in each of the first three periods amounted to 3 grams or over; in the 5 hours following it was practically 1 gram above the basal value. Since a possible error of 1 or 1.5 grams in the basal value is permissible, one may conclude from the values for carbon-dioxide production alone that the basal value was reached at the end of the third hour. Irregular increments, which are difficult to explain, were found for oxygen consumption throughout the whole experiment. The maximum increase was 7 grams in the first hour and the lowest, 0.5 gram, in the fifth period. Somewhat large increments were noted in the sixth, seventh, and eighth hours which indicate that if the experimental technique were accurate, the basal level was not reached at the end of the experiment. A measurable increment in heat production occurred in the first 3 hours, but subsequently irregular values were found, with an increase of 5 calories in the sixth period, followed by a decrease of 6 calories in the seventh period, this variation possibly indicating a compensation. From the standpoint of direct calo-rimetry, the experiment can hardly be called successful. If we base our conclusion upon the values obtained for carbon-dioxide excretion and heat production, it is probable that the basal level was reached in approximately the fourth hour. The respiratory quotients indicate a leakage of air in the last three periods.

Table 203. - F. M. M., December 10, 1908. Sitting. (1-Hour Periods). Beefsteak

Amount, 217 grams; nitrogen, 9.97 grams; total energy, 451 cals.

Fuel value: Total, 364 cals.; from protein, 70 p. ct.; from fat, 30 p. ct. Basal values (December 9, 1908): CO2, 25 grams; O2, 21 grams; heat, 77 cals.

1Heat eliminated corrected for change in body-weight, but not for change in body-temperature.

F. M. M., December 23, 1908

In this second experiment with F. M. M. 208 grams of beefsteak, with a nitrogen content of 9.55 grams, were ingested, this being approximately the same as in the experiment on December 10. The observations continued for only 6 hours, the urine being collected in 2-hour periods as before. Increments in carbon-dioxide production were noted in the first three periods, also in oxygen consumption. (See table 204.) Irregular values were obtained for both factors thereafter. This irregularity was also shown in heat production, as increments were obtained for the first and third periods and a basal value in the second period. As the irregularity in values is very pronounced, one may regard it as probable that the total effect of the beefsteak was obtained in the first 3 or possibly 4 hours, as also in the experiment with this subject on December 10, 1908.

Table 204. - F. M. M., December 23, 1908. Sitting. (1-Hour Periods). Beefsteak

Amount, 208 grams; nitrogen, 9.53 grams; total energy, 433 cals.

Fuel value: Total, 349 cals.; from protein, 70 p. ct.; from fat, 30 p. ct. Basal values (December 9 to 29, 1908): CO2, 25.5 grams; O2, 22.5 grams; heat,1 75 cals.

1Heat eliminated corrected for change in body-weight, but not for change in body-temperature. 2Sample included amount for about 1 1/2 hours preceding the first period.

F. M. M., January 20, 1910

In the experiment recorded in table 205, only 132 grams of beefsteak were eaten, with a nitrogen content of 6.05 grams. Increments in carbon-dioxide production and oxygen consumption were noted in the first 2 hours; thereafter values below the basal value were observed. The heat production showed an increment in the first five of the six periods. The only conclusion which can be drawn from this experiment is that the effect of the ingestion of beefsteak probably continued for 2 hours. The basal values used in this experiment were the average of results obtained in four experiments made within a month of the experiment with beefsteak. These appeared to be the most suitable basal values available, but the irregularities in the increments, as well as the appearance of values lower than basal, serve to accentuate the difficulties of measuring slight increases when the basal value is uncertain.

Table 205. - F. M. M., January 20, 1910. Sitting. (1-Hour Periods). Beefsteak

Amount, 132 grams; nitrogen, 6.05 grams; total energy, 274 cals.

Fuel value: Total, 221 cals.; from protein, 70 p. ct.; from fat, 30 p. ct. Basal values (January 31 to February 19, 1910): CO2, 26.5 grams; O2, 23 grams; heat,1 80 cals.

1Heat eliminated corrected for change in body-weight, but not for change in body-temperature. 2Sample included amount for about l 1/4 hours without food and for 1 1/2 hours with food preceding this period. 3Total amounts for the actual duration of the experiment, t. e., 5h40m.

L. E. E., January 17, 1910

But 163 grams of beefsteak, with a nitrogen content of 7.20 grams, were eaten by the subject in this experiment; the values obtained thereafter are given in table 206. Considerable increments in the carbon-dioxide production, oxygen consumption, and heat production were found throughout the whole experiment. Unfortunately it is necessary to use for basal values the results obtained in three experiments several months later; the base-line used may therefore be somewhat too low. It is not impossible that somewhat smaller increments would have been obtained than appear here if the basal value had been determined on the experimental day, but since the experiment is made on much the same plan as those in other laboratories, it is included in this discussion. Disregarding the high values obtained in the last period, the only conclusion which can be drawn from these imperfect data is that there was a positive increment in the metabolism for at least 3 hours as a result of ingestion of this amount of beefsteak.

Table 206. - L. E. E., January 17, 1910. Sitting. (1-Hour Periods). Beefsteak

Amount, 163 grams; nitrogen, 7.20 grams; total energy, 308 cals.

Fuel value: Total, 245 cals.; from protein, 75 p. ct.; from fat, 25 p. ct. Basal values (March 14 to May 11, 1910): CO2, 25.5 grams; O2, 21.5 grams; heat,1 76 cals.

1Heat eliminated corrected for change in body-weight, but not for change in body-temperature.