The use of an insoluble carbohydrate in a fruit (banana) presented certain facilities for the absorption and digestion of carbohydrate that would not obtain if starch were given. To approximate starch and still make the diet fairly palatable, we used popcorn in two of the Middletown experiments.

H. B. W., April 9, 1907 (187 Grams Popcorn, With A Fuel Value Of 796 Calories)

A basal value obtained 5 days before the experiment was used for comparison. Decided increments in the carbon-dioxide production are recorded in table 120 for all periods. A positive increment in oxygen consumption was noted in the first period, with slight fluctuations above or below the basal value in the three remaining periods. An increment in heat production was noted in all four periods, this paralleling the increment found in the carbon-dioxide excretion. The respiratory quotient was high throughout the entire experiment.

A. H. M., April 10, 1907 (199 Grams Popcorn, With A Fuel Value Of 847 Calories)

In the second experiment with popcorn an increment was found in both the carbon-dioxide production and the oxygen consumption for all of the four periods, that for the oxygen consumption being fairly constant. (See table 121.) There was also an increase in the heat production in the first three periods. The respiratory quotient was very high in the first period, then gradually lowered. The positive increments in the carbon-dioxide excretion and heat production in both experiments with popcorn indicate that the ingestion of this food material has a definite effect upon the metabolism.

Table 120 - H. B. W., April 9, 1907. Sitting. (2-Hour Periods). Papcorn

Amount, 187 grams; nitrogen, 3.26 grams; total energy, 824 cals.

Fuel value: Total, 796 cals.; from protein, 11 p. ct.; from fat, 11 p. ct.; from carbohydrates, >78 p. ct. Nitrogen in urine, 0.88 gram per 2 hours. Basal values (April 4, 1907): CO2, 54 grams; O2, 46 grams; heat, 158 cals.

1Subject ate popcorn in 53 minutes.

Table 121. - A. H. M., April 10, 1907. Sitting. (2-Hour Periods). Popcorn

Amount, 199 grams; nitrogen, 3.47 grams; total energy, 877 cals.

Fuel value: Total, 847 cals.; from protein, 11 p. ct.; from fat, 11 p. ct.; from carbohydrates, 78 p. ct. Basal rallies (March 6 and 9, 1907): CO2, 51 grams; O2, 46 grams; heat, 164 cals.

1Subject ate popcorn in 1 1/4 hours.