On the elimination of nitrogen by the kidneys and intestines during rest and exercise, on a diet without nitrogen / by E. A. Parkes, M.D.
- Parkes, Edmund A. (Edmund Alexander), 1819-1876.
- Date:
- [1867]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: On the elimination of nitrogen by the kidneys and intestines during rest and exercise, on a diet without nitrogen / by E. A. Parkes, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.
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![[From the Puoceedinqs of xhe IIoyal SocrETT, No. 89, 1867.] On the Elimination of Nitrogen by the Kidneys and Intestines during Rest and Exercise, on a Diet without Nitrogen. By E. A. Parkes, M.D., F.R.S. The experiments recorded in this paper were undertaken to test the results arrived at by Professors Pick and Wislicenus, with respect to the elimination of nitrogen during exercise on a non-nitrogenous diet, as recorded in the Philosophical Magazine for June 1866 (Supplement). Although these results are supported by the previous experiments of Dr. Speck, who has shown that if the ingress of nitrogen be restricted, bodily exercise causes no, or a very slight increase in the elimination of nitrogen by the urine, it appeared desirable to carefully repeat all the experiments, not only because the question is one of great importance, but because objections might be, and indeed have been, reasonably made to the experiments of Professors Pick and Wislicenus on the ground that no sufficient basis of comparison between periods of rest and exercise was given ; that the periods were altogether too short, and that no attention was paid to the possible exit of nitrogen by the intestines. In making the experiments, I was fortunate in being permitted to use the services of two perfectly healthy soldiers belonging to the Army Hospital Corps, and doing duty at the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley. When soldiers are steady and trustworthy, as these men were, they are good subjects for experiments of the kind, as they are accustomed to very regular diet and occupation, and moreover, from their habits of obedience, carry out all instructions with great precision. The satisfactory results of my experiments, as shown by the almost perfect agreement in the eflFect on each man, is owing essentially to the very great care with which these two intelligent men carried out every rule which was laid down. One of these men, S., is an admirable example of an average man ; he is 22^ years old, 5 feet 8 inches in height, weighs close upon 150 lb., is strong, with large bones and firm muscles, with sufficient but not exces- sive fat; he is very temperate, and is no smoker. He has never been ilJ in his life. The second man, T., is also a perfectly healthy man, and has only been ill twice, once in China six years ago with tertian ague, and about three years ago with intermittent hemicrania. But he is in size and weight a good contrast to S. He is 36 years of age, very well propor-](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b2148255x_0003.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
