Wilbur Olin Atwater (1844-1907)
Atwater received his PhD from Yale in 1869 for studies on the
chemical composition of corn. Studying in Berlin and Leipzig, he became
familiar with the eminent
Wilbur Olin Atwater (1844-1907)
Atwater received his PhD from Yale in 1869 for studies on the
chemical composition of corn. Studying in Berlin and Leipzig, he became
familiar with the eminent German chemists and physiologists Voit, Rubner,
and Zuntz. As Professor of Chemistry at Wesleyan College in Connecticut,
USA, he studied the effects of fertilizers in farming and established
the first agricultural experimental station in the United States at
Wesleyan in 1875 (which in 1877 became part of the famous Sheffield
Scientific School at Yale University). From 1879 to 1882 Atwater determined
the chemical composition and nutritive values of fish and animal tissues.
Returning to Germany in 1882-83, Atwater studied the metabolism of mammals
in Voit's laboratory.
Cycle ergometer used by Atwater and his colleague
Benedict in their studies
on exercise metabolism.
Atwater's familiarity with German techniques for measuring respiration
and metabolism helped him to conduct studies on food analysis, dietary
evaluations, energy requirements for work, digestibility of foods, and
economics of food production. He helped to persuade the United States
Government to fund studies of human nutrition. Atwater directed various
studies at agricultural experiment stations throughout the country that
resulted in the 1896 publication of 2600 chemical analyses of American
foodstuffs. An additional 4000 analyses were completed in 1899, including
another 1000 analyses done under Atwater's supervision. The 1906 re-issue
of the original report included the maximum, minimum, and average values
for water, protein, fat, total carbohydrates, ash, and a food's "fuel
value" calculated using