The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-12
WhIsksy and Sugar Supplied His Body With
Heat, Power and Muscular Force.
A CRITICISM OF SCHOOL TEXT BOOKS.
Professor Will Make Il In Address, in Which He
Will Describe His Experiments Teaching Of
Temperance Advocates 10 30 Discussed.

Middletown. Conn, June 12.-Prof.
w. o. Atwater of Wesleyan university
has finished his series OF experiments
with the respiratory calorimeter9 at
the laboratory. Emil Osterburg, who
recently was confined for ten days in
the box. was fed a diet OF which sugar
and alcoholic beverages formed a part.
IL was found that he was able To do
just as much manual work as though
he had had other diet, but that he had
fallen off little in weight.
The first experiment has been repeat
ed, with even more satisfactory results.
Just what these results are Prof. At
water will lay before the Middletown
Scientific society at it's meeting tomor-
row night. Until then he declines to
make them known. This much was
learned, that alcohol and alcoholic bev-
erages perform part OF the functions
of food, namely, that OF supplying the
body with fuel for the production of
heat and muscular power. In his ad-
dress tomorrow evening Prof. Atwater
Will criticise the teachings regarding
this subject in vogue i'm schools and
encouraged by temperance organiza-
tions.
Behind the experiments made by
Prof. Atwater who Is now n govern
ment agent in one of the experimental
stations established by congress, there
are the members OF the committee OF
fifty TO investigate the drink problem.
Among them are Seth Low of Columbia
university, Charles Dudley Warner OF
Hartford, Prof. Francis G.. Peabody of
Cambridge. Mass, and William T..
The committee declares that IL lis not
a new movement in temperance agita-
ton or reform. 1t is simply an organi-
cation for research" Neither one theory
nor another is advocated or even adj
vanced. The object of the investiga-
tion is pure science and the discovery
Of exactly what effect alcohol has on
the human system. Questions of an in
tellectual and moral character as TO tho
effects OF alcohol will not come up In
the investigation.
In the language of Prof. Atwater: "If
we are going To learn just how the
body uses the different materials by
which il is nourished. just what are
the values OF different kinds of food for
nourishment, and just what kinds and
amounts are appropriate for the needs
of persons OF different classes and with
different occupations. we must be able
to compare exactly the income and out
go of both matter and energy"
The respiratory calOrimeter' in
cludes a room or chamber i'm which the
subject remains during the experiment
The chamber is furnished with a fold
ing chair and table for the mans use
during the day and folding bed on
which he sleeps at night.
Osterberg was q voluntary inmate OF
this scientific prison. He is a janitor
in Wesleyan university. and has been
OF great assistance in making Prof. At
waters experiments successful.
Although a strong. healthy man Os-
terberg was a little dazen when he
came out OF his box, but he soon. re-
covered his elasticity. He was allowed
10 write letters and take all the exer-
else that the limited dimensions of the
ed drink of water the fluid was de-
posted i'm a tube, the cover screwed
on. the air exhausted TO a certain ex-
tent, all connection with the outside at
mosphere being cut of.
The inmate had only to open little
door on the inside end of the tube and
take out his drink of water. his beef
steak or his newspaper. without the act
affecting the air inside
In summarizing the results Of his ex-
periments- -Nith-th man -in-the- -ealeri--
meter, Prof. Atwater has said "The
experiments had a twOfold purpose
10 test the accuracy OF the apparatus
md methods. and TO determine the bal
ance OF income and outgo Of matter
and energy i'm the body They are pre-
minary 90 more extended research in
% some Of the fundamental problems OF
THE accuracy of the appartus and
methods for the determination Of ca't
BON dioxide. water and heat was tested
Dy heat generated in the chamber by
passing an electric current through a
resistance coil. and by burning ethyl
alcohol within the chamber"
This scientific testing chamber Is the
result ~ many years OF experiment
md study. 70 is a great Improvement
'n this original calorimeter used I'm Cor
many by the scientists or the Leipsic
md other universities.