The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-22
CAlORIMETEH BE
HELP To FARMERS
CONTINUED from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First Page.)
urements and this was not hitherto
the case. The question of the energy
which man expends to digest and as
slmiiate his food has also been stud-
led.
A deduction OF great theoretical In
terest obtained with the respii alton
calortmeter experiments 10 that the
law of conservation of energy holds
In the animal body. Such a conciu-
SION Is at the basis of many impor-
tant deductions regarding rations and
diets and the use which man makes
Of his food and farm animals make
OF feeding E.uffs.
The human body Is a complex ma
chine. 1t Is important to know Its
efficiency as compared with other ma
chimes. Experiments with the res
piration calorimeter show this to be
20 per cent. that Is, 8 units of energy
must be supplied by the food 10 pro.
vide one unit Of work. In this respect
man compares faroyably with the
best steam engine, their efficiency, II
is safe to say, not exceeding IA per
cent.
Whether or not physical energy
must be expended for mental WORK
as well as for muscular work Is
question of interest Judged by the
results of long series of expert
ments with the respiration calorims-
ter, severe mental work does not
make demands for physical energy, at
least in amounts that were measure
Bile even with 80 accurate an tnstru-
ment.
Solves Technical Questions.
1t Is natural that an apparatus Of
this character should be used in the
md ~ ear IN MI yrH lob
cannot be approached by simpler
means. and In part the results re-
ferred TO above are technical. How
ever. tho usefulness OF the respira-
ton calorimeter IL not limited to such
matters and II has been of great value
In studying questions OF everyday in
terest pertaining to food and the use
which man makes OF It II 10. In O.
large measure, due to this and reiat-
ed work that we are able to discuss
such matters today with reasonable
certainty.
The feeding standard is something
which the farmer OF today realizes
Is necessary for success, ana "a pro.
| gressive farmer bases his practice on
the feeding standards which expert
mentors have provided for him. II
we are to make the right use OF our
| available food supply. dietary stand
hruS are Deeoed ana those proposed
| by the department OF agriculture have
! had wide use. The proof OF the ac-
| curacy. with respect to energy, OF
! these dietary standards, has been oh
/ taired from experiments with the
! respiration caiorimeter.
The discovery that the respiration
| calorimeter IL equally as valuable for
| studying rtpening fruit processes and
other problems OF vegetable life and
! for the study Of mans food and the
way To use II. has opened up a new
| line OF work. With the apparatus
which has been built for this purpose
| and the larger respiration calorimeter
/ for experiments with man, the de-
| partment Is in position TO continue
| ITS Investigations of technical and
| practical problems and to accumulate
very useful and valuable information.
! The first stages in a valuable kind
| of work. has long been passed, the
/ apparatus and methods have been
| perfected. and facts OF great value
| have been occurred. New felds OF
| usefulness are being entered upon.
and the outlook for rapid accumula-
| ton Of additional data OF great i'm
| portance TO all who are interested In
| the profitable and proper use Of agri-
/ cultural products is assured