Experiments on the metabolism of matter and energy in the human body / By W.O. Atwater, PH.D., and F.G. Benedict, PH.D., with the cooperation of A.W. Smith, M.S., and A.P. Bryant, M.S.

  • Atwater, W. O. (Wilbur Olin), 1844-1907.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Experiments on the metabolism of matter and energy in the human body / By W.O. Atwater, PH.D., and F.G. Benedict, PH.D., with the cooperation of A.W. Smith, M.S., and A.P. Bryant, M.S. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    .^r LEHER OF TRAN'SMriTAL. N'SM u. s. departisrent of agriculture, Office of Experiment Stations, Washington^ JJ, C,October i.o, inoa. SiE: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of six experi- ments on the metabolism of matter and enerj>y in the human body by W. O. Atwater, special agent in charge of nutrition investigations, and F. G. Benedict, expert assistant in the investigations, with the cooperation of A. W. Smith and A. P. Bryant. These experiments form a part of a series whicli are in progress at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., and were made with the Atwater-Rosa respiration calorimeter described in previous bulletins of this Office (44 and 63). The ulciraate object of this series of experiments is a study of the fundamental laws of nutrition. A necessary prelimi- nary to such a study was the development of apparatus and methods for the accurate measurement of the income and outgo of matter and energy. As the experimental data obtained show, the apparatus and method have now reached a degree of perfection which encourages the hope that they will yield results of the highest value when applied to the study of such questions as the functions of the different classes of nutrients, the demands of the body under different conditions, etc. An incidental feature of two of the experiments reported was a partial study of the food value of alcohol when used in limited quantities in the daily diet. The study of this question was undertaken at the instigation of the Committee of Fifty for the Investigation of the Drink I*roblem for the purpose of securing more accurate and scientific knowl- edge of the physiological action of alcohol. Financial aid for this work was furnished by the Committee of Fifty, from the Elizabeth Thompson and Bache funds, and from private sources. Special mention should be made of the valuable assistance rendered by Messrs. O. S. Blakeslee, H. M. Burr, and O. F. Tower in the prosecu- tion of the work here reported. The connection of Prof. E. B. Rosa with the development of the respiration calorimeter and the investigations made by its use is indi- cated by his joint authorship with Prof. VV. O. Atwater of the i)revious bulletin of this series (03), which describes the apparatus in detail and sniiimarizes the results of two of the experiments reported in detail in this bulletin. The report is respectfully submitted, with the recommendation that it be published as Bulletin No. C9 (revised) of this Office, the revision consisting of a few minor <',orrections in figures and an ex])lanation (p. 74) of the data obtained in experiment No. 7. HoHpe<trully, A. C. True, Director. Hon. Jamks Wilson, Secretary of A (/riculture.