The elements of the science of nutrition / by Graham Lusk.

  • Graham Lusk
Date:
1917
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The elements of the science of nutrition / by Graham Lusk. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    156/850 (page 156)
    The nitrogen elimination remains unaffected by temperature. At the ordinary room temperature there scarcely seems to be any increase in carbon dioxid output, but at the lower temperatures the quantity of the fat metabolism is markedly increased, as shown by the rise of carbon dioxid elimination. The individual sat quietly in a chair, but at a temperature of 4.40 C. could not prevent himself from shivering. The whole effect of the chemical regulation in man has been attributed by Johansson1 and also by Sjostrom2 to the additional metabolism due to shivering. Voit did not believe that this could be the cause, nor that the increased respiratory activity could account for the rise in metabolism. Voit believed the increase to be due to a reflex stimulus of cold on the skin which raised the power of the muscle cells to metabolize. Voit’s views have been confirmed in Rubner’s laboratory3 in the following series of experiments on a man: CO2 in Grams per Hour 32.3 30-0 27.9 3i-7 32.4 In this experiment there was no shivering at a temperature of 150 and yet the metabolism increased from what it was at 230. It has also been shown that cool baths and winds increase the metabolism, which must be effected through the chemical regulation. Lefevre4 states that a man who has been inured to it may sit naked for several hours in a cold wind without a reduction of body temperature. Rubner5 has measured the effect of baths and douches lasting three and a half to five minutes. When the water has a temperature of 16° he finds that the carbon dioxid elimination may be very largely increased, especially in the case of the douche. The effect of the douche was more marked if taken before breakfast when the intestinal tract was free from food. The results before breakfast were as follows: 1 Johansson, J. E.: Skan. Arch. Physiol., 1897, 7, 123. 2 Sjostrom, L.: Ibid., 1913, 30, 1. 3 Rubner, M.: “ Energiegesetze,” 1902, p. 203. 4Lefevre, J.: Compt. rend., soc. biol., 1894, 1, Series 10, p. 604. 5 Rubner, M.: Arch. f. Hyg., 1903, 46, 390. Temperature i5° 20° 23° 25° 290