Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-06-16
TESTING OF
FOOD VALUES.
Scientific Experiments to Deter
mine Energy Producing Force.
CEREALS, MEATS, ETC., USED.

Tests Conducted by Department of
Agriculture on Human Subjects In a
Respiration Calorimeter - Results
Applicable to Cost of Living.
Just as the mechanical engineer
finds it important to determine the en-
ergy producing value of the different
kinds of coal tar for engines. so the
department of agriculture at Washing
ton has concluded it will be worth
while to find out what kinds of food
are the most valuable to the human
system.
Does n pound of roast beef produce
more energy than n pound Of nuts or
| an equal amount Of cabbage? Is 1t
! better to partake of lard or beef suet
than butter? How much are fruits
worth when it comes to producing
force enough to enable a man to swing
a pick all day or throw q sledge? If
! one had to make up a ration for set
of men-an army ration, for instance
| just how would one go about to obtain
a food allowance that would give the
| person using it enough energy to en-
able him to perform the work expected
of him?
Food Expert In Charge.
OF these and similar questions the
office of experiment stations of the de-
partment of agriculture is conducting
most interesting and probably val.
hla nf nv
Langworthy is in charge. He is an
expert on the subject of food values
and Is delving deeply into this prob
lem, one that promises to become more
and more important as the cost OF liv-
ing increases.
That the data being obtained will be
of much value for scientific and prac-
tical use there is little or no doubt.
The instrument that is being used to
experiment on man Is a respiration
calorlmeter. 1t was used with success
In obtaining information on the nutri-
tive value of foods which was utilized
in preparing a publication on the use
of meats In the home. A million and
quarter copies of this work have
been distributed.
The respiration calorimeter consists
of an air tight copper chamber 6 by
by feet. so arranged that a man may
live in 1t in comfort for periods of q
few hours to a number Of days or
even weeks. The copper chamber is
surrounded by a zinc wall and an
outer protecting wall and is supplied
with n current of fresh air. 1t is fur
nished with bed and other articles
for the comfort and convenience of
the subject of the experiments
Subjects For Tests Changed Often.
DR.. Langworthy does not experiment
with a single subject. He has no class,
as DR.. Wiley had with his poison
squad" but he changes subjects fire.
quenty and experiments with a num-
Der. The length of time for which a
subject remains in the calorimeter
varies. One or more remained in the
chamber two weeks. Sometimes
stay of an hour or two is sufficient to
obtain the necessary data
BY the method pursued the respira-
tory products are measured and ana
lyZed as well as the food eaten and the
energy given off by the body, which
is eventually recovered in the form of
heat. With the aid of the factors
which can be measured it is possible
to study the relative nutritive value
of different kinds of food and the re
latiOns of various kinds of food to mus
cular work of varying kind and in
tensity. In other words this respira-
Investigator to determine the value OF
food for the body just as an engineer
finds out what coal is best for his en-
gine.
The nutritivc value of cheese as an
economical article of diet is being
studied. 1t is also proposed to find out
the relative value of butter, lard, beef
fat, olive oil and other edible and Gull
nary fats as sources of energy in the
body. The food value of cereal prod
ucts and meat and meat products is
being gone into. Other subjects OF
study relate to the value of fruits and
preserves. evaporated fruits and other
fruit products, nuts and nut products
and vegetables. The respiration Gallo.
rimeter is ESSENTIAL for the measure
ment of factors which are at present
imperfectly understood
What Was Missing.
DR.. Watson Dan Maclaren) used to
tell story about his trip to the Holy
Land, to which he had been looking
forward for Il number of years with
pleasurablc anticipation.
As he was nearing the center of his.
toric Palestine he met an American
who was making all haste to get away.
After such greetings as two English
speaking men meeting in a foreign
country might exchange the Ameri-
can asked Dr. Watson where he was
going.
"To Jerusalem" was the reply
"Jerusalem"' exclaimed the Ameri- |
can in tones of unfeigned disgust !
you don't want to go there. I've just
come away. It's slow town. Why, |
there isn't a single daily newspaper in
the whole place!"