The food reduction used for Squad A in this investigation may be regarded as a major change in the diet of these men. This reduction was continued for a relatively long time; the men lost approximately 10 per cent in weight and in general lived at this lowered level for about 2 months; certain striking physiological changes resulted. The introspection and comments concerning the diet and physical activity have been presented. From the mental side, also, certain general questions suggest themselves; (1) What was the character of the psychological environment for this experiment? (2) What in general was the mental attitude and disposition of the men during the experimental period? (3) As college students, how did the men of Squad A progress in their studies during the months when they were on reduced rations?

Regarding the first two queries, we have only the comments of the men themselves and of their instructors and other associates. Concerning the scholastic work there is the added evidence of term grades given in the different courses and under the different instructors. It is difficult in the introspection and personal impression material to make a clear separation between that which relates to physical condition and performance on the one side, and mental ability, disposition, and attitude on the other. In fact, no inflexible boundaries can be set. For purposes of analysis, however, we may look at personal comment from the two points of view. In the following notes we have entered those things which seem to relate particularly to the psychological or mental side. There is a very minor amount of duplication between these notes and those given under the heading of physical activity:

Introspective Comments Of Subjects

Mem

November 10: Feels only fair; too weak; can not concentrate attention. December 8: "I am weak and irritable." January 26: "For the past few days I have had to go to bed early in the evening and study in the morning; I have noticed the weakness more since Christmas." At the end of the patellar-reflex measurements the subject was found to be asleep. February 2: "The chief difficulty with the whole experiment has been the sensation of being continually weak. I think this has not affected my physical work quite so much as it has my studying. I have noticed repeatedly that I could not seem to concentrate my attention on this sort of work." Subject reports himself to have been by habit a very heavy eater before the experiment. February 8:1 "Can study better now".

Tom

November 10: Thinks he is keener and can do mental work easier since the experiment began. December 8: He is annoyed because the other fellows urge him to take more physical work and reduce faster; says he has not time to do it. "It makes a difference if one comes first in the evening in the individual psychological experiment as to how you feel for sleepiness; I notice the difference between now and the previous session. This is the first time that I have been among the first four subjects tested in an evening." December 19: "Feel fine and 'dandy' to-night; have felt pretty good all along, sometimes better than at other times but that just happens anyhow." February 2: "The chief inconvenience of the whole experiment has been the necessity of saving urine and feces and having only one place where this could be put. Besides my studies I manage the college store and am busy every minute of the day. There is no time for me to think about being hungry. I believe that it is because of this extra light physical occupation that I have not noticed the hunger and unpleasantness so much as some of the other subjects. As I have looked over the individuals of Squad A, I believe the men who are worried the most, and seem the most irritable, are those who have the least to do. Some of these subjects get through with their work in the afternoon at 3 o'clock and have nothing to do until supper but study and think how hungry they are. I believe that if I had to study during those periods I would notice the hunger too, but I am active, having to wait on customers, and subject to the demands of other people and my attention is occupied." February 8: "Now on the full and uncontrolled diet I am not quite so keen mentally as during the first part of the experiment. Immediately after the experiment was finished and when I began eating heartily again I had a tremendous tendency for drowsiness following meals when attending classes. This is passing off, but has not entirely disappeared".

Pec

November 10: "Think I am keener mentally than when on full diet. It teaches a fellow a lot, particularly how much he can stand." January 26: "I am quite fit for mental work." February 2: "Am feeling rather better, continually improving; think I grow more fit all the time. During the diet I have not required so much sleep as usual." February 8: "I am sleeping all the time now on the uncontrolled eating. During the experiment there were a couple of papers on which I did not get my usual B mark, otherwise I think my work was normal." We believe that Pec was throughout the entire experiment the most optimistic subject of the entire group, but he talked the most about food.

1The reader should bear in mind as he goes over this testimony that the experiment ended the morning of February 3, 1018. Any comments dated later than this were in the post-diet period, when the subjects were eating uncontrolled.

Gar

November 10: "Have noticed no particular difference in mental ability; I tire easier when sitting in a chair studying." December 19: "Am looking forward to to-morrow morning" (Sunday uncontrolled dinner). January 6: "I feel all right, considering I am the last man to be tested to-night. This week I have been normal in every way; no trouble at all." February 2: "During the experiment I have been able to do my studying as well as usual, but it has not been so with my physical work. I do not seem to require so much sleep as I used to when on full diet. I believe this diminished sleep requirement is related to the diet. Lately I have had something of a 'don't care' attitude in relation to school work and the experiment also. This may possibly be due in part to the general disorganization of the school work on account of the war." February 8: "There was a definite change in the mental disposition with the diet; crabbedness and irritability developed after about the first 2 weeks and continued mostly during the experiment. So far as I was able to note there was no particular change in the ability to study, except as would be associated with some physical weaknesses".