154

       This is fairly close to the result already obtained in the previous investiga-
tion, and would probably be still closer if we could make allowance for the effect
of the diminution of the Burma rice of the diet by 10 ozs. per day for the batch
of five men.

       We therefore find from this line of experiment that the addition of a certain
small amount of animal diet does cause a large increase in the absorption of
nitrogen from the diet. But, as we shall see in the next observation, this increase
is by no means constant even for the addition of the same amount of meat, and
that it also depends largely on the composition of the " basal diet " to which the
meat is added.

       (iii) Investigations to show that the increase in the amount of nitrogenous
metabolism may be no real measure of the amount absorbed from a highly assimilable
form of protein which has been added to a " basal," diet.

       Thus, taking the diet—

Burma rice           40 ozs. as the basal diet
   for five Behar
   prisoners,
Wheat ata           50   „
Mung dal           30   „
Vegetables           30   „

we have seen by Table XI, Diet V, that this diet affords an intake of 391.50
grms. nitrogen of which 233.73 grms. nitrogen are absorbed.

       Now to this " basal " diet were added 16 ozs. of goat's flesh when the
following results were obtained :—

BATCH P. Quantity
of Urine.		 Weight. Total N.
of Urine.		 N. of
Burma
rice.		 N. of
Mung
dal.		 N. of
Wheat
ata.		 N. of
Vege-
tables.		 N. of
Goat's
flesh.
  c.c. lbs. grms. grms. grms. grms. grms. grms.
Five prisoners, Beharis 7,820 117.8 48.51 13.60 34.59 27.75 2.36 10.43
8,100 117.7 50.22 13.60 34.59 27.75 2.36 10.43
9,930 117.8 47.54 13.60 34.59 27.75 2.36 10.43
10,480 118.0 49.65 13.60 34.59 27.75 2.36 10.43
8,500 117.8 48.99 13.60 34.49 27.75 2.36 10.43
Total intake of nitrogen. = 443.65 grms Total output—
     N. of Urine       =244.91 grms.
     .5 grm. daily       =  12.50    „
  Total N. metabolism     =257.41    „

       257.41 grms.—233.73 grms.=23.68 grms. is all that would appear to be ab-
sorbed from 52.15 grms. of nitrogen in the form of mutton—only 45.40 per cent.
of its nitrogen, which is absurd.