The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-27 00:00:00

HOW MUCH TO EAT AND DRINK.

If we turn to the declarations of physiologists as
to what is sufficient diet, we shall find considerable
diversity among their opinions. Valentin, who ex-
perimented on himself, states that about 61bs. per
diem of solid and liquid food was the quantity
which sufficed to keep him in full health ; and Dr.
Brinton, who agrees generally with this estimate,
eonsiders that 2ibs. should consist of solid food.
Dalton, an American physiologist, considers, from
experiments made on himself, that about nibs. of
solids, and 3lbs. of liquid per diem is the proper
quantity, at least when a diet is used consisting of
bread, meat, butter, coffee, and water, as in his in-
vestigations. The elaborate researches of Vierordt
give a different result, only about 18 ounces of solids
being used, together with a much larger quantity
of water than in either of the preuding estimates.
But as the experiments of Valentin and Dalton
were made on themselves, i.e., on persons actively
exerting their minds (and probably their bodies
also), whereas the subject of Vietordt's experiments
seems to have been a mere human lay figure, using,
probably, the minimum of exertion of any kind, no
fair comparison can be made between the results.
. . . On the whole, perhaps, Dalton's estimate
of 2llbs. solid, and 3ibs. of liquid food may be
considered as nearly representing the quanti-
ties which would be suitable for an adult not
living a life of great mental exertion or anxiety, and,
like Dalton, not drinking alcohol. In the ease of a
moderate consumer of alcoholic drinks, this propor-
tion may be somewhat reduced. We ague with
Mr. Lewes that it is impossible to doubt that, mak-
ing all allowance for possible peculiarities of cir-
cumstances and constitution, the very small daily
quantity of solid food (12 oz.), on which the cele-
brated Cornaro lived for so many years, was ren-
dered sufficient, in great measure, by the 14 oz. of
light wine which he added to it; though we would
by no means recommend our readers to try the
effect of such severe abstinence, even with this miti-
gation. If any such standard as that of Valentin or
Dalton, as to quantity of food, he adopted, atten-
tion must be paid to the proportion of flesh food
which should enter into it. Dalton allowed one
pound of meat per diem ; and from a comparison of
numerous dietaries of public institutions, due allow-
ance being made for the peculiar circumstances of
their respective inmates, this seems to approach
pretty nearly to the best general average that can
be given for the nourishment of adult males. From
what has been already stated as to the influence of
high muscular development in the demand for
flesh food, it will be inferred that women, under
ordinary circumstances, would require less of this
sort :of nourishment than men.—Cornhill Maga-
zine for July,

SECOND EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, HALF-PAST 4 O'CLOCK.

SPAIN.

The Madrid journals of the 23a state that the
King, accompanied by the Minister of War ard
several other military officers, had visited the
Hotel des Invalides. His Majesty afterwards called
upon the Governor of the establishment, Count de
Mirasol, who is suffering from Hines?, and ad-
dressed him in very affectionate terms.
Further shocks of earthquako have been felt at
Carthagena and in various districts of Almeria.
Houses were injured, but no lives lost: