Two respiration experiments were carried out in July, 1911, to study the metabolism several hours after the ingestion of beefsteak. In both instances the steak was eaten at midnight and the subsequent experiments began at approximately 8h30m a. m.

In the experiment with H. F. T., July 14, 1911, the subject ate 206 grams of beefsteak, with a nitrogen content of 9.46 grams; the first observation was made at 8h36m a. m. The heat production for this period, as shown by table 217, was 0.92 calorie per minute. The two succeeding periods did not show materially different results. If we compare the heat production in this experiment with the basal value of 0.92 calorie per minute found for this subject on July 10, 1911, it is clear that the effect of 206 grams of beefsteak had entirely passed at the end of 8 1/2 hours. The nitrogen excretion for approximately 11 hours after the ingestion of the food was as follows: Between 1 lh45m p.m., July 13, and 7 a. m., July 14, 0.80 gram per hour; between 7 a. m. and 10h40m a. m., July 14, 0.69 gram per hour.

Table 217. - H. F. T., July 14, 1911. Lying. (Values Per Minute). Beefsteak

Amount, 206 grams; nitrogen, 9.46 grams; total energy, 428 cals.

Fuel value: 346 cals.; from protein, 70 p. ct.; from fat, 30 p. ct.

1Beefsteak eaten at 12 midnight July 13.

A similar experiment was made with the subject H. L. H., on July 15, 1911, in which 249 grams of beefsteak, with a nitrogen content of 11.44 grams, were eaten at midnight; beginning at 8h59m a. m. the next day, the metabolism was observed approximately every hour, the last observation being at 3h46m p. m. The results of the experiment are given in table 218. The calories per minute varied from 1.15 to 1.31, the highest value being found in the last period. Comparing these results with the basal heat production of 1.11 calories found for this subject approximately two weeks previous, we note that the basal value was exceeded in all of the observations on July 15. This is in full conformity with the experiment of July I, 1911, given in table 215, which showed that with this subject exactly the same amount of beefsteak had a prolonged effect which continued 12 hours or more.

Table 218. - H. L. H., July 15, 1911. Lying. (Values Per Minute). Beefsteak

Amount, 249 grams; nitrogen, 11.44 grams; total energy, 518 cals. Fuel value: Total, 418 cals.; from protein, 70 p. ct.; from fat, 30 p. ct.

1Beefsteak eaten between 12h03m and 12h40m a. m.

The nitrogen excretion for 14 1/2 hours after the ingestion of the beefsteak was as follows: Between 10h30m p. m., July 14, to 7h40m a. m., July 15, 0.67 gram per hour; between 7h40m a. m. and 2h40m p. m., July 15, 0.71 gram per hour. It is clear that these two experiments are not at all in agreement so far as the two subjects are concerned, and yet more nearly comparable experiments with H. L. H. than those of July 1 and July 15 can hardly be expected. With this subject, at least, 249 grams of beefsteak resulted in a stimulus to the metabolism which persisted 8 to 12 hours and probably somewhat longer. A similar experiment was made with Dr. S.1 on July 13, 1911 (details not here given), in which but 73 grams of beefsteak, with a nitrogen content of 3.36 grams, were eaten at midnight. The average heat production for three experimental periods the next morning between 9 and 10 o'clock was 0.92 calorie. This is the basal value for this subject; hence the only deduction that can be drawn is that the small amount of beefsteak was without influence upon the basal metabolism 9 hours after eating.