Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-15
LAWS OF NUTRITION
Series of Experiments Being Con-
Quoted by Mr.. Atwater.
THE SUBJECTS AND CONDITIONS
Information as to the Values of
Different Foods,
NTER ESTING RESI- Its

The various effects of different foods on
the human body is the subject of a pamph-
let shortly to be issued by the Department
of Agriculture. 1t will give the result of
six experiments by W. o. Atwater, special
agent in charge of nutrition Investigations,
and F.. G. Benedict, expert assistant in the
Investigations. These experiments form a
part of series which are in progress at
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.
Object of the Experiments.
THE ultimate object of this series of ex-
perments is a study of the fundamental
laws of nutrition" says Dr. A. c. True, di-
rector of the office of experiment stations
"A necessary preliminary to such study
was the development of apparatus and
methods for the accurate measurement of
the income and cutgo of matter and energy.
AS the experimental data obtained show,
the apparatus and method have now reach
ed a degree of perfection which encourages
the hope that they will yield results of the
highest value when applied to the study of
such questions as the functions of the diff
ferent classes of nutrients, the demands of
the body under different conditions &C
An Incidental feature of two of the
periments reported was a partial study of
the food value of alcohol when used in
limited quantities in the daily diet. The
study of this question was undertaken at
the instgation of the committee of fifty
for the investigation of the drink problem
for the purpose of securing more accurate
and scientific knowledge of the physio.og-
ical action of alcohol.
The Subjects Selected
The subjects experimental on were placed
In a chamber seven feet long four feet
wide and six feet four inches high this
place being furnished with folding chair,
table and bed. Numerous arrangements
made n lea a fo
determine the nutritive quality of food fur
nished the man during the several days of
the experiment.
In carrying out these experiments a man
is selected who is in good health, has
apparently normal digestion, and who does
not find the confinement in the chamber
uncomfortable. diet is selected which
provides materials as palatable and in as
much variety as Is consistent with con-
Venient preparation and with accurate
sampling and analysis. The quantity and
composition of the diet are generally such
as to maintain the body nearly in nitro
gen and carbon equilibrium under the con-
ditOns of the experiment. whether of work
or of rest. In order that the subject may
become accustomed to this diet and reach
approximate nitrogen equilibrium with it
before the experiment proper begins, a pre-
llminary digestion experiment of four days
or more Immediately precedes the metabpl-
ism experiment. Any change found desir-
able is made. and the preliminary expert
ment is continued until nitrogen equili-
brium is supposed to be reached. In most
cases no change has been found necessary,
and the preliminary experiment has con-
unued four days During the period of
the preliminary feeding the subject is in
general engaged in his customary occupa-
ton, but he conforms his muscular activity
more less to that of the coming expert
ment. Thus if this is to be a work ex-
pertinent, he rides on bicycle or walks
a considerable distance each day. If it is
to be a rest experiment, he avoids all
Unnecessary exercise