p. 1365) made a dieting experiment during 38 days, upon one of themselves.  The proteid was derived exclusively from vegetable food.  The food consisted of bread, lentils, haricots, potatoes, carrots, chestnuts, endives, apples, oranges, preserves, sugar, starch, butter, chocolate and wine.  At the commencement, the day’s food contained 14.1 grammes of nitrogen = 89.3 proteid, which was gradually diminished.  On the 7th day 11.6 g.  N. = 73.5 g. proteid was reached; during this time less N. was eliminated, indicating that the proteid food was in excess of that required for the wear and tear of the body.  As the quantity of nitrogenous food was diminished almost daily, the N. eliminated was found to diminish also.  This latter was in slight excess of that absorbed; but when a day or two’s time was allowed, without further reduction in the food, the body tended to adjust itself to the dimished supply, and there was an approximation of income and expenditure.  The smallest quantity of food was reached on the 32nd day with 1.06 N. = 6.7 proteid, which was obviously too little, as 2.19 N. = 13.9 proteid was eliminated.  On the 21st day 4.12 N. = 26 proteid was injested, and 4.05 N. was eliminated.  The inference drawn from the research is that about 26 grammes of proteid per day was sufficient.  The weight of the body remained practically constant throughout, and the subject did not suffer inconvenience.  Of course the full amount of calories was kept up; as each succeeding quantity of the proteid was left off, it was replaced by a proper quantity of non-nitrogenous food.  These experiments were carried out in the usual approved scientific manner.  It may, however, be urged against any generalised and positive conclusions as to the minimum quantity of proteid required for the body, being drawn from such experiments, that the period covered by them was much too short.  A prolonged trial might have revealed some obscure physiological derangement.  We are quite justified in concluding that the usual, so-called “standard dietaries” contain an unnecessarily large proportion of proteid.  In some practical dietaries, 50 grammes and under have seemed enough; but for the ordinary adult man, who has been accustomed to an abundance of proteid, and whose ancestors have also, it is probably advisable not to take less than 70 or 80 grammes per day (2-1/2 to 3 ounces).  If it is desired to try less, the diminution should be very gradual, and a watch should be kept for any lessening of strength.

Some comments may now be made upon the table of dietaries.  That of the London sewing girl contained 53 grammes of proteid, which should have been ample, according to some of the authorities we have given; yet she was badly nourished.  The food was doubtless of bad quality, and it appears deficient in carbo-hydrates; this latter is shown by the low number of calories.  The long hours and unhealthy conditions of work, and not a deficiency of food constituents, is probably