Physiological economy in nutrition, with special reference to the minimal proteid requirement of the healthy man: an experimental studyChittenden, R. H. (Russell Henry)
Science
Physiological economy in nutrition, with special reference to the minimal proteid requirement of the healthy man: an experimental study
Chittenden, R. H. (Russell Henry)
Metabolism; Nutrition
In the majority of cases there was a loss in body-weight, but
this we look for, as the larger number of soldiers were fairly
well supplied with adipose tissue. Both Sliney and Oakman are
exceptions, these men being “fine” at the outset. I mean thin
and muscular with little fat. The latter, Oakman, is an old
man judged from the physical activity standpoint, and lost
noticeably during the tests and exercise. I refer to weight
and girth measurements only. He made a very large gain in his
strength tests and was among the leading men in all that called
for courage and self-control. Sliney, nervous, irritable, and
aggressive, balanced his losses with his gains in the tape and
scale events, but made great improvement in the use of the
dynamometers. Fritz and Cohn were quite fat and showed the
expected loss in weight, but not in other respects.
For comparison I have quoted from Dr. J. W. Seaver’s
anthropometric charts and have selected the “Average Student
Measurements” (2390 men) as well as the mean measurements of
500 athletes and gymnasts. A glance at either set of figures
will give an idea of how the soldiers compare with men living
on a regular diet and surrounded with the very best environment.
The strength tests stand for mental states more than the tape
line and calipers, and are suggestive of improvement in body
conditions for the reasons mentioned above. These records are
far above those made by Academic Freshmen in Yale, but it must
be added that the soldiers have taken more exercise than the
collegians.
The hearts and lungs of the men are in excellent condition,
while the soldiers as a body are in better shape physically,
are stronger and healthier than in October. The skin of the men
is clear and ruddy.
The figures for comparison in the Strength Test Table are from
the records sent me by Dr. Geo. Meylan, the Director of the
Columbia University Gymnasium. I understand that others than
college men are represented in his data. In the figures given
in my own tables I have omitted the small fractions in the main
body of the tables, but have recorded them in the totals.
The greater portion of the training of the soldiers has been
under the personal supervision of Wm. H. Callahan, M. D., the
Medical Assistant at the Gymnasium, to whom I am indebted for
help and suggestions. Mr. Wm. Chase, Mr. Anton Muller, Mr. John
Stapleton, and Mr. H. R. Gladwin, Assistant Instructors in
the Gymnasium, have led the drills and have looked after the
actual muscular training of the men. I gladly acknowledge the
co-operation of these gentlemen in the physical development of
the squad.
A brief summary of my conclusions:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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