The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-02-28

muscular protein, primarily by The ac-
ton of the vegetable kingdom. Pro-
tein seems to be condensed electricity,
Just as the sugars are condensed heat;
and what makes this probable is that
vegetables form their sugar by means
of the carbonic acid resulting from com
bustion, and their protein by means
of nitrous and ammoniacal compounds,
produced by atmospheric and terres-
trial electricity.
Some psychologists, from wrongly
interpreted experiments, have adj
vanced the notion that the animal
strength is not produced solely by the
Reorganization of the muscular protein,
but also by the combustion of other
respiratory principles, such as the
sugars and ats,-thus wishing wholly
to compare the animal mechanism to
steam engine, the force of which is
simply heat, transformed through the
intermediation of steam. But,-asde
from the fact that this way of looking
at the subject scarcely allows us to Ut
derstand how heat can transform itself
into work in the animal machine, so
totally unlike steam engine, while
we know very well the contractile
power of electricity upon the muscles,
the thought is condemned by all prac-
tical experience; which is often more
correct than scientific conclusions. Il
is universally recognized that an ami
NAL cannot do good work without food
rich in protein; and for men also, it is
not necessary to cite proofs that ener-
getic and prolonged work cannot be
had with diet poor in protein, how
ever rich it may in sugar and fat. Ex-
amples abound of very strengthening
diets, although they may be poor in
respiratory elements. We know, for
instance, the astonishing vigor of car
niverous animals, as compared with
the herbiverous races.
1t is not, indeed, all the protein con-
sumed in the animal machine which
can produce muscular force; but only
that portion of it which is assimilated
and made an integral part of the mus
Giles. These set free, in their activities,
the dynamic electricity which is trans
formed, by the muscular contractions
of bodily movements, into utilisable
work. Tranquility of body and mind,
and especially sleep, are the most ia
vorable conditions for the assimilation
of protein, and consequently for the
renewal of muscular strength. This
agrees with practical experience; which
likewise shows that lack of sleep and
also bodily and mental disturbances
which over-stimulate the waste of the
respiratory principles, cause an abate-
ment and weakening of the muscular
strength which is just the reverse of
what would take place if that strength
originated from the consumption of the
sugars and fats. With these facts in
view, we can understand how easily we
may calculate, theoretically, the guam
tity of work which any given weight of
assimilated protein can produce; -
throwing its calorfic power, and the
mechanical equivalent of heat, which
is equal to 1850. But it is here neces-
sary to observe, in order to calculate
theoretically the heat-producing power
of protein, that protein substances never
undergo complete oxidation in the ami
NAL organism; but only partial one,
producing water, carbonic acid and
urea;-the common forms under which
organic nitrogen passes out of the body
in the urine. Here follows the math-
ematical formul@, which it is not nee.
essary to reproduce. Thus one lkilC-
gram of protein can produce 1850 units
of heat. By direct experiments in the
combustion of beef, FARMLAND found a
calorlfc power varying from 1902 to
5,l95 for complete combustion. Thus
one kilo of protein represents 4 $50
calories; and as one calory equals 425
kilogralnmeters of work, it follows that
one kilogram of muscular protein, in
undergoing Reorganization, can fur
nsh 4 $50 x 425 = 2,103,750 kilogram-
meters, or 2 104 dynamics Such is the
dynamic i. e. pgth-producin
power of protein which enables us
easily to find the quantity of protein
necessary to repair the losses of an ami
NAL standing idle, and of an animal at
work.
NOTE BY TRANSLATOR. - Those
readers who have preserved the pre-
vious numbers, in which the values of
the terms here used were given, can
easily follow these calculations.
MALARIA is one of the most insidi-