Prolonged reduced diet with resulting change to a lower nutritional level might conceivably have some important sociological bearings. It might be asked, for example, if there were under these circumstances any change in the sex interest and desires. Under ordinary conditions trustworthy introspective statements on this problem would be exceedingly difficult to obtain. This is obviously due in large part to the prudishness of our education in regard to sex matters. The ordinary individual is not willing to reveal the facts of his own sex life and finds difficulty in taking an objective attitude in reviewing them. If asked direct questions, many a man would take the attitude that he was insulted and would either refuse the information or evade the truth.

It is important to emphasize the difficulties which usually surround the collection of trustworthy sex data, for it so happens that they contrast sharply with those which were fortunately present in our research. The attitude of the Young Men's Christian Association on knowledge of sex is well known. No other organized group of men has treated the subject in a more straightforward and frank manner. Both in the schools over which they have control and in their public service for men in clubs and gymnasiums, they have labored to establish a sane view of these things and to place private and social hygiene on a sure footing. At the International Y. M. C. A. College at Springfield, especially, it has been recognized that each secretary and physical director must have a sound and wholesome attitude regarding these important matters if he is to be of maximum service to the Young Men's Christian Association. Thus the subjects of our investigation were accustomed to regard and discuss sex matters from a different point of view than would be the case with most groups of men or, we might say, with almost any other group of men. These men were neither prudish nor vulgar-minded. They were a clean group of honest, virile men and with no venereal diseases.

On February 8 and 9 one of us was in Springfield for the purpose of interviewing the men of both squads with regard to changes from reduced diet to the uncontrolled eating. An individual interview was arranged with each man. The conditions were entirely appropriate to holding such personal interviews. Each conference was begun by discussing the topics of clothing and cold, ability for physical and mental work, and the condition of the stomach and bowels, on the uncontrolled diet in contrast to the conditions prevailing during the experiment. The men discussed these topics freely and full notes were made. Finally, we asked if in the contrast between low diet and uncontrolled eating they had noticed any change in the sex desires or interest. Before the men could reply, it was pointed out that suggestion and introspection are particularly prominent elements influencing the sex factor, and therefore it was not deemed wise to question on this topic during the experiment. On the other hand, since the subject has a large possible importance physiologically and sociologically, it could reasonably be mentioned at this point. Any personal candid opinion the subject might be willing to express concerning his own case would be appreciated and considered as personally confidential.

Following the first direct answer by the subject, he was asked to make the matter specific in his own case under such topics as nocturnal seminal emissions; tendency to erection; desire for and sex appeal at dance and occasions of association with women; sex appeal of shows, pictures, and books; and any other conditions peculiarly individual where sex might be a factor. Furthermore, he was asked to give any comments concerning dreams. Every effort was exercised to make the questions neutral. We could in no wise anticipate what would be revealed by the group of interviews. It is gratifying to record that not one of the 24 subjects took the matter as a joke or objected to having notes made from his comments.

The detailed evidence is published in full elsewhere,1 and is peculiarly uniform. The usual statement was about as follows:

"In my own case I am convinced that sex desires were much less prominent during the low-diet period than under normal conditions. I had no attractions to the opposite sex and did not care to be with them. This condition in myself surprised me greatly. Nocturnal emissions and erections were less frequent while on the diet.1 I do not recall any sex dreams. There were a few dreams of food".

1Miles, The sex expression of men living on a lowered nutritional level, Journ. Nervous and Mental Disease, 1919, 49, p. 208.

Although the interval on full diet between the close of the experiment and the date of the interview was not long, many of the men reported having observed a distinct return to normal sex interest with the uncontrolled eating. This was manifested particularly in the desire to associate with women. Suddenly and coincident with the uncontrolled eating the opposite sex had become very attractive. The men insisted that they had essentially as much to do and to occupy their attention outside of the experimental period as during the experiment and that the change must be an effect of the reduced diet. Some of the men had spoken with room-mates or other near associates concerning this change which they observed in themselves during the period of the experiment. The element of suggestion undoubtedly played some part, but on the other hand a good many had never before the interview considered the topic with anyone, although they had recognized changes in themselves and had given some thought to them.

We have emphasized the favorable conditions surrounding the collection of these data. We believe that the self-observations of the men are, on the whole, trustworthy. It is clear that they show a decrease in sexual interest and expression, which, according to some of the men, reached the point of obliteration with the lowered nutritional level incident to the prolonged reduced diet, and that, furthermore, there was a prompt return to normal conditions with the uncontrolled feeding. The accounts of the two squads, A and B, were in agreement.

These results appear to us of considerable significance. Any dietetic regime which, even though it affects the external appearance and performance of an individual but little, definitely lowers the tone of the sex instinct, causing one sex to take but little interest in the other, would seem to be disadvantageous to society if indefinitely prolonged and no adjustments were made in the sex instincts. Our data indicate that nature demands a rather high metabolic level for the normal functioning of sex in man. Admittedly we are venturing somewhat into the field of speculation in discussing the matter from this more generalized point of view. But one thing is sure: no sweeping general conclusion about the lowered nutritional level found in this investigation may disregard the effect on the sex expression.

We are by no means on new territory when we connect sex and the metabolic level. Riddle2 and other workers find with animals that sex is closely associated with metabolism and is probably more or less dependent on the metabolic level. These investigators have shown that by modifying one they may modify the other. It is commonly believed that the sex instinct is stronger in men than it is in women. The large amount of metabolism data from this laboratory and other institutions has proved that the metabolism of men is higher than that of women. It is not, therefore, illogical to believe that a lowered metabolism in men may reduce or even obliterate sex interest.

1It is to be recorded that since many of the men had to rise at an earlier hour than was their usual habit, the bladder was seldom as full as might normally be, and since frequently this is associated with erection, this influence must not be entirely neglected in weighing the evidence.

2Riddle, Lectures on heredity. Washington Acad. Sci., 1917, p. 319.