1878J 
Jones—Effects of Prolonged Exertion, etc. 
853 
INVESTIGATIONS ON THE EFFECTS OF PROLONGED MUS- 
CULAR EXERCISE ON THE EXCRETION OF UREA, URIC 
ACID, PHOSPHORIC ACID, SULPHURIC ACID, AND CHLO- 
RIDE OF SODIUM. 
JOSEPH JONES, M.D., 
Professor of Chemistry and Clinical Medicine, Medical Department University 
of Louisiana; Visiting Physician of Charity Hospital, New Orleans; 
Member of Board of Health, State of Louisiana. 
It is important that the physician and physiologist should 
embrace those comparative rare opportunities in which indi- 
viduals perform definite mechanical labors in carefully recorded 
periods of time, for the determination of the amounts of those 
excrementitious compounds which represent the waste of the 
blood, and of the muscular and nervous tissues. 
The results thus obtained are valuable, as furnishing data for 854 
Original Communications. 
[May. 
the proper estimation of the disturbances occasioned in the 
chemistry of the body by the action of morbific agents in certain 
diseases. 
When the individuals undergoing extraordinary muscular 
exertion in definite and carefully recorded periods of time, not 
only consent to the investigation, but also exercise the greatest 
care to render the results accurate; and when no effort is spared 
on the part of the chemist to secure the correct determination 
of the products of the chemical changes of the organs and tis- 
sues, by the employment of the most approved instruments and 
methods of research; the conclusions may be accepted for pur- 
poses of comparison with the observations made in other states 
of the human system, as of rest, variations of diet, starvation, 
and disease. 
Observations on the Urinary Excretion, and especially 
upon the Amounts of Urea, Uric Acid and Phosphoric 
Acid, Sulphuric Acid and Chloride of Sodium Ex- 
creted in Definite Periods of time, by the Pedestrian 
Henry Schmehl, during his recent Walk of 500 Miles, 
in 142 Hours 17 Minutes and 5 Seconds, in St. Patrick’s 
Hall, New Orleans, Louisiana. 
Henry Schraehl; native of Germany; age 28 years; weight 145 
its.; height 5 feet 11 inches; broad shoulders; well formed limbs; 
large feet; athletic figure; fair complexion; blue eyes; light hair; 
pleasant expression of countenance, with determined, well-set 
mouth, prominent nose, and high cheek bones; good cerebral 
development. In walking, the stride of the pedestrian measured 
three feet and nine inches, and the entire body, chest and arms 
were thrown in motion. The movement of the arms appears 
to be as great as those of the lower extremities. The legs move 
with the freedom and ease of those of the dromedary. 
Schmehl commenced his walk in St. Patrick’s Hall at 9.04 
p. m., Monday evening, February 4th, 1878. At 8.05 o’clock, p. 
m., February 5th, he completed the 100th mile: time, 23 hours 
11 minutes; this included over 4£ hours occupied by the pedes- 
trian in sleep and in taking his meals; the actual walking time 
was about 18 hours. The 100th mile was made in 8 minutes and 1878] 
Jones—Effects of Prolonged Exertion, etc. 
855 
5 seconds; the average time for each mile was ten minutes and 
a half. 
At 9£ o’clock p. m., February 6th (Wednesday), Schmehl com- 
pleted the 180th mile. This was a tailing off of 20 miles in the 
performance of the 1st 24 hours, which was accounted for by the 
fact that he felt sore about the feet and legs, from his extra 
exertions on Tuesday, the 5th inst. He made the 169th mile in 
8 minutes, by special exertion. 
His average continues about 11 minutes per mile. With the 
exception of some soreness about the feet, his condition and 
health are good, the pulsations of the heart being not over 98 
per minute when at rest. 
Commenced collecting the urine of Schmehl on Thursday, 
February 7th, 11,45 a. m. 
Dr. Samuel D. Hamilton, of Waterford, Mississippi, kindly 
consented, with the full approval of the pedestrian, Mr. Henry 
Schmehl, and of his banker, Mr. Dick Sims, to superintend the 
rigid collection ot the urine excreted up to the moment of the 
termination of the walk. 
I furnished the necessary glass vessels, and each day the 
entire amount of urine was transmitted by Dr. Hamilton to my 
Practical Laboratory, Medical Department University of Loui- 
siana, corner Common and Baroime streets, 2d floor. 
Dr. Hamilton informed me that Mr. Schmehl manifested great 
interest in the investigation, and was scrupulously exact in pre- 
serving the entire amounts of urine passed. 
From 9£ o’clock p. m., February 6th, up to 11.45 a. m., Feb- 
ruary 7th, 1878, Schmehl walked 50 miles, and the pedestrian 
had therefore, up to the moment of the commencement of the 
collection of his urine, walked 230 miles, in a period of 61 hours 
and 41 minutes, including rests and periods consumed in eating. 
During this period he rested about 15 hours, making actually on 
the track 46.41 hours. Average number of miles per hour for 
entire time, including rests, 3.74; average number of miles per 
hour whilst on track, 4.95. 
Amount of urine passed during 24 hours, from Thursday, 
February 7th, 11.45 a. in., to Friday, 8th, 11.45 a. m., 1500 cubic 
centimetres. Urine light brownish-yellow color; clear; no de- 
posits; strong acid reaction. When boiled, the urine emitted 
bubbles of carbonic acid, and let fall a heavy white deposit, 856 
Original Communications. 
[May. 
which was entirely and promptly soluble in nitric acid, and 
which upon chemical examination proved to be not albumen, 
but the phosphates of lime, magnesia and ammonia. These 
phosphates were held in solution in the urine by carbonic acid, 
which was dissipated by heat. The excess of carbonic acid in 
the urine appears to have been derived from the porter and the 
seltzer water, which the patient took in considerable quantities. 
Specific gravity of urine 1029. 
1500 cc. of urine passed during 24 hours, February 7th, 11.45 
a. m., to February Sth, 11.45 a. in., contained: 
Urea 970.20 grains. 
Uric acid 9.00 “ 
Phosphoric acid 75.07 (C 
Sulphuric acid 77.20 u 
Chloride of sodium 171.88 u 
Distance walked during the 24 hours in which the preceding 
1500 cc. of urine were excreted (February 7th, 11.45 a. in., to 
February 8th, 11.45 a. m.), 85 miles. 
Actual time on the track, 17 hours and 40 minutes; rested 6 
hours and 20 minutes. Average number of miles per hour, in- 
cluding entire time of 24 hours, 3.54 miles. Average number of 
miles each hour whilst on track (17 hours 40 minutes) 4.8 miles. 
Amount of urine excreted during 24 hours, Friday, February 
Sth, 11.45 a. m., to Saturday, February 9th, 11.45 a. m., 1659 
cubic centimetres. Specific gravity 1025. Reaction acid. Urine 
turbid from slight deposit of urates and phosphates. Urine of a 
lighter color—reddish yellow. As before, the urine contained 
much carbonic acid, and let fall a heavy white deposit of the 
phosphates, when subjected to the action of heat. The urine 
is not so strongly acid as upon the preceding day. 
1650 cc. of urine excreted during 24 hours (Friday, February 
Sth, 11.45 a. m., to Saturday, February 9th, 11.45 a. m.), con- 
tained : 
Urea 914.76 grains. 
Uric acid 13.20 “ 
Phosphoric acid 69.87 9 
Sulphuric acid 49.76 “ 
Chloride of sodium 127.05 “ 
Distance walked during the 24 hours in which the preceding 
specimen of urine was collected (February 8th, 11.45 a. in., to 1878] 
Jones—Effects of Prolonged Exertion, etc. 
857 
February 9th, 11.45 a. m.), 83 miles; on the track 17 hours and 
20 minutes; rested 6 hours and 40 minutes. Average number of 
miles during the entire period of 24 hours, 3.45 per hour; aver- 
age number of miles each hour during active exercise, 4.83. 
Total distance walked up to 11.45 a. m., February 9th, 398 
miles; it was therefore necessary that the pedestrian should 
still walk 102 miles to complete the 500 miles in the stipulated 
time. 
Amount of urine passed during 24 hours, February 9th, 11.45 
a. in., to February 10th, 11.45 a. m., 1715 cc. Urine of lighter 
color—deep yellow. It is not only more abundant, but is of less 
specific gravity, and its reaction is neutral. Specific gravity 
1022. These changes in the urine appear to be due to the more 
free use by the pedestrian of porter, champagne, and seltzer 
water. When boiled, heavy white deposit of phosphates, soluble 
in nitric acid. 
1715 cc. of urine passed during 24 hours (February 9th, 11.45 
a. in., to February 10th, 11.45 a. m.), contained: 
Urea 789.02 grains.. 
Uric acid 12.00 “ 
Phosphoric acid 47.20 4* 
Sulphuric acid 53.00 “ 
Chloride of sodium 78.90 u 
I 
There was an evident flagging of the powers of the pedestrian 
during the 24 hours just specified, as the fifth hundred miles 
were completed in 32 hours 51 minutes and 25 seconds, whilst 
the preceding fourth hundred miles were completed in 29 hours 
4 minutes and 20 seconds. 
Schmehl completed the walk of 500 miles at 7.21 o’clock p. m., 
this day, February 10th. 
The entire time consumed in walking the 500 miles, was 142 
hours 17 minutes and 5 seconds. 
Amount of urine passed (during 7 hours and 36 minutes) from 
11.45 a. m. to 7.21 o’clock p. m., February 10th, 1475 cubic centi- 
metres. Light yellow color; slightly turbid. Light deposit of 
urates. Eeaction neutral. Specific gravity 1023. Heat drove 
oft the excess of carbonic acid and caused a precipitate of the 
phosphates, as in preceding specimens. 
1475 cc. of urine passed during 7 hours and 36 minutes (11.45 
a. m , to 7.21 p. m., February 10th), contained: 858 
Original Communications, 
[May. 
Urea 601.80 grains. 
Uric acid 7.35 “ 
Phosphoric acid 30.10 “ 
Sulphuric acid 43.05 u 
Chloride of sodium 111.82 u 
It is evident from the results of the preceding analysis, that 
the excretion of the urinary constituents was greatly increased 
during the last portion of the walk of 500 miles; and such in- 
crease appears to be clearly referable to nervous excitement, and 
increased exertions in the presence of the large audience assem- 
bled in St. Patricks Hall to witness the conclusion of the re- 
markable performance. During the last hour of the walk the 
pedestrian was continuously cheered by the audience, and he 
appeared to summon all his energies to complete the 'self-imposed 
task. 
That there was no diminution in his exertions, is evident 
from the following record of the last 56 miles. 
Miles. 
Min- 
Sec. 
Milis. 
Min. 
Sec. 
Miles. 
1 
j Min. 
j Sec. 
443 
.... 13.00 
464 
... 12.50 
483.... 
.... 12.10 
444 
.... 12.00 
465 
... 12.30 
484.... 
.... 13.00 
445 
.... 12.50 
466 
... 12.25 
485.... 
.... 14.00 
446 
.... 12.10 
467 
... 12.00 
486.... 
.... 13.50 
448 
.... 12.00 
468 
... 12.05 
487 
.... 12.00 
449 
.... 12.05 
469 
... 12.10 
488.... 
.... 13.20 
450 
.... 12.50 
470 
... 12 00 
489 
.... 12.00 
451---... 
.... 12.10 
471 
... 12.45 
490.... 
.... 13.20 
452 
.... 11.50 
472 
... 13.05 
491.... 
... 12.10 
453 
.... 11.45 
473 
... 13.30 
492.... 
.... 10.05 
454 
.... 11.55 
474 
... 14.00 
493.... 
... 10.10 
456 
.... 13.00 
475 
... 14.05 
494.... 
.... 11.30 
457 
.... 13.30 
476 
... 15.00 
495 
... 11.00 
458 
.... 13.45 
477 
... 14.20 
496.... 
... 11.00 
459 
.... 12.50 
478 
... 13.50 
497.... 
... 12.30 
460 
12.35 
479 
... 13.00 
498 
... 11.30 
461 
.... 13.00 
480 
... 13.05 
499.... 
... 12.00 
462 
.... 13.00 
481 
... 13.10 
500.... 
... 11.25 
463 
... 13.10 
482 
... 11.10 
In the following1 table is given the time in which each 100 
miles was finished, the actual walking time and periods of rest, 
the speed per hour, together with some observations made by 
his attendant physician* upon the variations of the pulse, respi- 
ration and temperature. 
* Dr. L. A. Estrampes. Jones—Effects of Prolonged Exertion, etc. 
1878] 
859 
Hours. 
Min. 
Sec. 
Full time. 
23 
11 
5 
Actual walking time.... 
, 17 
24 
38 
Aggregate resting time.. 
5 
46 
27 
Average time per mile.. 
10 
27 
Average miles per hour, 
5.71. 
FIRST 100 MILES, 
Pulse Respiration and Tempera- 
ture. 
During the entire walk there was 
little or no perspiration. The respi- 
ration varied from 18 to 19$ per min- 
ute; and the temperature under the 
tongue from 98 to 98.75° F. On the 
first night before walking, his pulse 
was 82; after walking steadily without 
extra exertion, it rose to 98, and then, 
upon great exertion in walking rapidly 
around the track for some minutes, it 
rose to 108. After resting, the pulse 
fell to 96. 
On the second day the pulse ranged 
from 92 to 96, except during unusual 
exertion, when it rose to 116. After 
resting three and a half hours, and 
sleeping one hour and a half, it fell to 
85. 
On the third day, the pulse ranged 
during exercise from 98 to 112, and 
after rest it fell to 82. 
On the fourth day, Schmehl took 
his first bath, and after resting his 
pulse fell to 78, and rose to 98 during 
walking. 
On the last day he commenced with 
a pulse of 82, which increased during 
exercise to 92, and after sleep fell to 
72. It ranged from 84 to 106. At 
the end of the last mile the pulse was 
100. 
The following are the variations of 
the Pulse, Respiration, and Tempera- 
ture, during the period in which the 
urinary secretion was examined. 
February 7th.—Pulse, 96-126; res- 
piration, 18-22; temperature, 98-100°*. 
February 8th.—Pulse, 86-106; res- 
piration, 19-22; temperature, 98°- 
98.8°. 
February 9th.—Pulse, 75-102; res- 
piration, 18-20; temperature, 98°- 
98.5°. 
February 10th.—Pulse, 78-106; res- 
piration, 18-21; temperature, 98.5°*- 
99°. 
SECOND 100 MILES. 
Hours. 
Min. 
Sec. 
.Full time 
30 
25 
Actual walking time... 
. 19 
4 
30 
Aggregate resting time. 
. 10 
25 
55 
Average time per mile. 
11 
26 
Average miles per hour, 
5.20. 
THIRD 100 MILES 
Hours. 
Min. 
Sec. 
Full time 
. 27 
40 
40 
Actual walking time... 
. 18 
30 
38 
Aggregate resting time. 
9 
10 
2 
Average time per mile. 
11 
Average miles per hour, 
5.40. 
FOURTH 100 MILES. 
Hours. 
Miu. 
Sec. 
Full time . 
29 
4 
20 
Actual walking time.... 
19 
53 
3 
Aggregate resting time.. 
9 
11 
17 
Average time per mile.. 
12 
45 
Average miles per hour, 
5. 
FIFTH 100 MILES. 
Hours. 
Min. 
Sec. 
Full time 
. 32 
51 
25 
Actual walking time... 
. 20 
39 
13 
Aggregate resting time. 
. 12 
12 
13 
Average time per mile. 
12 
13 
Average miles per hour, 
4.9. 860 
Original Communications. 
[May. 
Total time consumed by Schmehl in walking 500 miles, 142 
hours 17 minutes and 5 seconds. 
Aggregate time walked, 95 hours 32 minutes and 3 seconds. 
Aggregate time rested, 46 hours 45 minutes and 3 seconds. 
When the last mile was finished, the pedestrian had 42 minutes 
and 5 seconds to spare, and had consumed on an average about 
11£ minutes to each mile. The fastest mile was the first, which 
was made in eight minutes; the slowest was about sixteen and 
a half minutes. He actually walked about eighty-three and one- 
third miles a day. 
It is said that O’Leary, in April, 1877, walked in Loudon 500 
miles in 134 hours 43 minutes and 20 seconds, and 519 miles in 
140 hours 29 minutes and 50 seconds, being matched against 
Weston. 
Schmehl consumed about one and a half pounds of rare beef 
steak, and one and a half quarts of fresh beef tea, and half a 
dozen raw eggs daily; and in addition, drauk freely of porter, 
champagne and seltzer water. His limbs were rubbed twice 
daily with aromatic linament. 
The prolonged exertion was productive of no ill effects, and 
the next day after the completion of his 500 miles walk, he drove 
out to the lake with his friends. 
General Besults. 
The preceding investigation adds another demonstration to 
the doctrine that increased muscular exertion is attended with 
increased secretion of urea, phosphoric acid, and sulphuric acid. 
Schmehl excreted in the 24 hours ending February 7th, 11.45> 
nearly one thousand grains, or more exactly 970.20 grains of urea, 
75.07 phosphoric acid, and 77.26 grains sulphuric acid. On the 
following day there w7as only a slight diminution ot these con. 
stituents; and during the 24 hours ending Febiuary 10th, 11.45 
a. m., ouly 789.02 grains of urea. 47.20 of phosphoric acid, and 
53.0 grains of sulphuric acid were excreted. But even the last 
amounts are far in excess of those usually excreted by active, 
well-fed muscular men. 
A great increase of urea and of phosphoric and sulphuric acids 
was, however, witnessed during the last seven and a half hours 
of the walk, during which short period the extraordinary quan- 
tities of 601.80 grains of urea; 30.10 grains phosphoric acid, and 1878] 
Jones—Effects of Prolonged Exertion, etc. 
861 
43.05 sulphuric acid were excreted. An equal rate of excre- 
tion for 24 hours would have given about 1865.48 grains urea, 
90.50 grains phosphoric acid, and 137.76 grains of sulphuric acid. 
Amounts of Urea Excreted by Adult Men under Vari- 
ous Conditions of Rest, Exercise, and Variations of 
Food. 
The estimates by various observers, as to the average amount 
of urea excreted during twenty-four hours by adult men, vary 
within wide limits; but the variations may, however, be recon- 
ciled by referring them to the differences of methods ot analysis, 
and to the different circumstances and conditions of rest, exer- 
cise and food. Becquerel estimated the amount of urea excreted 
by healthy adults at from 225 to 270 grains in twenty-four hours. 
Golding Bird placed the average amount excreted by healthy men 
during twenty-four hours at 270 grains. The following are the 
results deduced by M. Lecanu from a series of 120 analyses. 
Adult men 
Maximum 
grains. 
... 510.36 
Mean 
grains. 
433.13 
Minimum 
grains. 
357.5 
Adult women 
.. 437.15 
295.15 
153.2 
Old men (84 to 86 years).. 
... 295.15 
125.22 
61.0 
Children of eight years 
... 254.20 
207.99 
161.7 
Children of four years 
... 81.83 
69.55 
75.2 
According to Lehmann, a healthy man excretes during 24 
hours from 340 to 600 grains of urea. This physiologist obtained 
the following results from experiments upon himself. 
Urea Excreted in Twenty-four Hours. 
Mixed diet 501.76 grains. 
Animal diet 821.37 “ 
Vegetable diet 347.10 11 
Non-nitrogeuous diet 337.90 11 
Id the first series of experiments, Professor Lehmanu adopted 
an ordinary mixed diet, and took no more solid or liquid aliment 
than was needed to appease hunger and thirst, and abstained 
from fermented drinks. Every two hours he took exercise in 
the open air, but avoided immoderate exercise of every kind. 862 
Original Communications. 
[May. 
The result given upon the first line represents the average 
amount of urea passed, under these circumstances, for fifteen 
days. 
In the second set of experiments, Professor Lehmann lived for 
twelve days on an exclusively animal diet, which during the 
last six consisted solely of eggs. He took thirty-two eggs daily, 
which contained 2929 grains of dried albumen, and 24.31 grains 
of fatty matter, or about 3532 grains of carbon, and 465.5 grains 
of nitrogen. From the table it is seen, that the urea increased 
from 501.76 grains to 821.37 grains, and contained more than 
five-sixths of the whole amount of nitrogen ingested. 
In the third set, the experimenter lived upon a vegetable diet, 
and during this period the average daily amount of urea fell to 
347.10 grains. 
In the fourth set, the diet consisted entirely of pure farinace- 
ous and oleaginous substances, so that the azotized matter of 
the urine (urea) must have been solely the result of the disin- 
tegration of the tissues, and it is seen to have undergone a rapid 
and marked diminution, for this diet was used only two days: 
the health of Professor Lehmann was so seriously affected that 
he was unable to continue the diet longer. 
Dr. John C. Drapejr found the average quantity of urea ex- 
creted during 24 hours to be 408 grains. Bisclioft places the 
average for adult men at 540 grains. 
The average daily amount of urea excreted by adult males, 
between twenty and forty years of age, has been given at the 
following figures by the different, observers: Parkes, 371.5 
grains; Benke, 378.2; Scherer, 416.8-460.4; Moos, 444.6; Bocker, 
444.9; Schneller, 458.2; Neubauer, 511.2; Kaupp, 535.1 J. Yogel, 
540,0; Y. Franque, 541.3; Beigel, 551.0; Mosler, 558.9; Rummel, 
563.6-605.2; Kerner, 588.2; Ranke, 656.0; Hammond, 670 6; 
Gentle, 517,4; Warneeke, 520; Haughtou, 575.8 grains. 
Dr. Edmond A. Parkes, in his work on ‘■‘The Composition of 
the TJrine in Health and Disease, and under the Action of Reme- 
dies f gives as the mean result of numerous analyses of urine in 
adult males between twenty and forty years of age (the mean 
in the analyses being generally drawn from more than six, and 
often ten to twenty days), as 512,4 grains during twenty-four 
hours. 
Dr. Thudichum, in his work on the Pathology of the Urine, 
affirms that numerous experiments have shown that a healthy 1878] 
Jones—Effects of Prolonged Exertion, etc. 
863 
man, who lives well, discharges from 30 to 40 grammes (463 to 
617 grains) of urea in twenty four hours. 
The discrepancies in these results are referable chiefly to dif- 
ferences of chemical processes, and in the diet and modes of 
living of the subjects of the experiments. Thus the process 
employed by Becquerel (the separation of the urea as a nitrate) 
yields lower results than the volumetric method of Liebig, 
which was employed by most of the observers whose results 
have just been presented, and which method was also employed 
by myself in the analysis of the urine of Schmehl. In addition 
to this, the subjects of Becquerel’s experiments were Frenchmen, 
who, from their size and diet, appear to yield less urine than 
Englishmen, and probably also than the Germans, 
Professor Lehmann, according to his statement of the amount 
of food consumed during his investigations, evidently excreted 
more urea than usual; and the average founded upon his experi- 
ments would be somewhat higher than the average with Ameri- 
cans. The digestive powers of a man who could dispose of 32 
eggs daily, must surely be far above those of ordinary men in 
civilized life in this country. 
If we adopt the standard of Dr. Thudichum, which is full high 
for Americans, then Schmehl excreted, during his prolonged 
muscular exertions, nearly double the amount of urea ordinarily 
excreted by well-fed and active men. The increased amount of 
urea in the urine of Schmehl was clearly referable to the mus- 
cular exertion required to execute on an average a journey of 83| 
miles iu 24 hours. 
In starvation, it is well known that the urea is greatly dimin- 
ished in the uriue, and may fall as low as 120 grains in the 24 
hours. 
On the other hand, as I have shown by numerous recorded 
observations, iu certain diseases, as pneumonia and typhoid 
fever, small-pox, hospital gangrene, pymmia, remittent fever, 
malarial hgematuria, and yellow fever, the urea may range from 
600 to 1250 grains in the 24 hours; and that, too, whilst the 
patients were taking little or no food, and were in a state of 
almost absolute starvation. In yellow fever, when the kidneys 
perform their normal functions, and when there is no abnormal 
alteration of these organs and diminution of their excretion, I 
have observed the urea to range from 600 to 1000 grains in 24 
hours. 864 
Original Communications. 
[May. 
In other words, in certain diseases, and especially in typhoid 
fever and yellow fever, the waste of the tissues in a state of 
almost absolute starvation is greater than those of a well-fed 
pedestrian who walks 83J miles per day, and completes 500 miles 
in a little over 142 hours. 
In such facts we have a powerful argument tor the theory, 
that febrile poisons are related in a definite manner to the chemi- 
cal constituents of the blood and organs and tissues. 
Such results place in the clearest light the absurdity of those 
theories which would locate the origin and nature of fever solely 
in the cerebro-spinal and sympathetic nervous system. Without 
doubt the nervous system suffers in fever, and manifests its 
peculiar phenomena and disordered acts when affected by mor- 
bific agents; but the blood and muscular tissues and other 
organs suffer in a similar degree. 
The fever patient, therefore, actually generates an amount of 
physical force and loses correspondingly an amount of matter, 
equivalent to the muscular and nervous force requisite to achieve 
a walk of 100 miles in 24 hours. 
Is there, then, in the light of such facts, any obscurity about 
the cause of the wasting and utter muscular and nervous ex- 
haustion induced by the action of febrile poisons ? 
In the case of Schmehl, the chemical acts of the waste of or- 
ganic material resulted in the production of mechanical force— 
muscular and nervous force. In the fever patient we have the 
elevated temperature, rapid respiration, rapid circulation, and 
aberrated muscular and nervous forces. The chemical changes 
take place in the essential fevers, in the wrong positions and in 
uncontrolled amounts, and accomplish no useful mechanical 
results. We have in such facts, also, when coupled with the 
mode in which Schmehl sustained his muscular and nervous 
forces by beef tea and nutritious diet, and alcoholic stimulants, 
a strong argument in favor of the practice of those ph,\siciaus 
who sustain the strength and chemical acts of their patients, in 
fever, by such easily assimilated diet as beef tea, milk and wine. 
Amount of Phosphoric Acid Secreted by Adult Men 
under Various Conditions, 
Dr. Breed, from thirty examinations of urine of four healthy 1878] 
Jones—Effects of Prolonged Exertion, etc. 
865 
persons, determined the average daily amount of phosphoric 
acid to be grains 57.44; Neubauer, in the first individual, grains 
47.86; in the second individual, grains 24.70; average for 24 
hours, grains 36.28; Mosler, first series, 37.05; second series in 
the same individual, grains 57.12; average, grains 45; Dunblken- 
burg grains 32.94; Kaupp, 35.46; Bencke, 39.21; Ranke, 41.53; 
Aubert, grains 43.23. The mean of twenty-five sets of observa- 
tions collected by Dr. Parkes, was 48.8 grains a day. 
Dr. William Hammond determined the amount of phosphoric 
acid excreted by himself, under different circumstances of in- 
•creased and diminished intellectual labor and the use of tea and 
coffee. Duiing these experiments Dr. Hammond lived gener- 
ously, as he says: “During the twenty-four hours I consumed 
sixteen ounces of fresh beef (boiled and roasted), twelve ounces 
of bread, one ounce of butter, eight ounces of potatoes, and two 
drachms of common salt. In the same period I drank thirty- 
two ounces of water. No other food, solid or fluid, was taken 
into the system.” Under ordinary exercise and intellectual 
work the average daily amount of phosphoric acid excreted dur- 
ing ten consecutive days was, grains 43.66; during a similar 
period, under increased mental exertion, grains 66.15; under 
diminished mental action, grains 25.10; when tea was used, 
grains 38.07; coffee, 43.94. 
Abstiuence from food, or from food containing phosphorus 
and its compounds, diminishes the amount of phosphoric acid in 
the urine, but does not, as in the case of chloride of sodium, 
cause its entire disappearance; for whilst a large portion of this 
acid excreted by the kidneys is derived from the portions of 
food which accomplish their offices without entering into the 
actual composition of the various structures, still the portion 
which varies according to definite laws, is derived from the 
changes of those structures, which normally contain phosphorus 
and its combinations, as the nerves and muscular structures. 
Thus Mosler found, during abstinence from food, that the phos- 
phates of the urine sunk to half the ordinary quantity, whilst, 
on the other hand, under larger amounts of albuminous sub- 
stances consumed as food, the amount of this constituent of the 
urine was doubled. 
Schmehl excreted, during the three last days of his walk, re- 
spectively, 75.07 grains, 69.87 grains, and 47.20 grains of phos- 
phoric acid; and during the last 7 hours and 36 minutes of the 866 
Original Communications. 
[May. 
500 miles, he passed in his urine the extraordinary quantity of 
30.10 grains, or on an average 90.60 grains of phosphoric acid. 
The increased excretion of phosphoric acid in the case of the 
pedestrian, was clearly referable to the increased expenditure of 
muscular and nervous force. 
I have shown, by numerous observations— 
1st. That the amount of phosphoric acid varies with the 
nature of the disease. 
2d. In intermittent fever, the excretion of phosphoric acid 
varies with the stage of the disease, being greatly reduced in 
the cold stage, and increased in the latter portion of the hot 
stage and commencement of the intermission. In a case of 
malarial hmmaturia the phosphoric acid, immediately after the 
restoration of the function of the kidneys, amounted to the extra- 
ordinary quantity of 120.12 grains in 24 hours, although the 
patient was in a state of almost complete starvation; and if the 
individual had been in a state of health and similarly deprived 
of food, this constituent of the urine would not have exceeded 
between ten and twenty grains. 
3d. The amount of phosphoric acid excreted daily is increased 
in yellow fever (when the urinary excretion is not suppressed), 
in remittent fever, in typhoid fever, in small pox, scarlet fever 
and measles; in hospital gangrene, dry gangrene, and pyaemia; 
in traumatic tetanus, and in inflammatory diseases of the cerebro- 
spinal nervous system, and in pneumonia and pleuritis. 
Amount of Sulphuric Acid Excreted by Adult Men 
under Various Conditions. 
If we accept the observations of Clare, Gruner, Neubauer, 
Parkes and others, and place the daily amount of sulphuric acid 
excreted by healthy men at between twenty and thirty-eight 
grains, with a mean of thirty-one grains, it is evident that in 
the case of the pedestrian Schmehl, this constituent of the urine 
was greatly increased, as he excreted upon the three last days 
of his walk, respectively, 77.26 grains, 49.76 grains, 53.00 grains; 
and during the last 7 hours and 36 miuutes of the walk, 43.05 
grains, or on an average 137.76 grains in 24 hours. 
Eecent investigations have not confirmed in all respects the 
observations of Berzelius and others, with reference to the 1878] 
Jones—Effects of Prolonged Exertion, etc. 
867 
presence of sulphuric acid and sulphates in any considerable 
amounts in the juice of flesh; and they point to the kidneys and 
blood as the positions where these chemical changes are com- 
pleted, in the final conversion of the sulphur of the albuminous 
compounds into sulphuric acid. The absence of sulphates from 
the juices of muscle may also be due to the constant passage of 
these salts from the muscular fibres into the blood, and the 
continuous and efficient elimination of the elements or compounds 
by the kidneys. 
Whatever view we adopt with reference to the formation of 
sulphuric acid in the animal economy, it is evident that its 
increase, during the active stages of any disease, indicates an 
increased change of those nitrogenous elements which contain 
sulphur, and we must refer the increase of sulphuric acid in the 
urine of the pedestrian Sehmehl to the same cause.