Nutrition and Other Subjects of Allied Interest 89 



substantially the same as those previously employed, but the sugar in the urine of the 

 diabetics was determined by an improved method, a description of which is given. 



The attempt was made to study the individual cases more systematically and com- 

 pletely, at least 3 of the cases being carefully observed over a considerable period 

 of time. The clinical history of each case is given, with complete details of the 

 experiments. The pulse-rate, body-temperature, body-weight, nitrogen excretion, 

 and gaseous metabolism are discussed in some detail, considerable attention being 

 given to body-weight. Since loss of weight is a marked feature of diabetes, and 

 these changes should be interpreted intelligently, the fluctuations in body-weight of 

 normal individuals are considered at some length ; a comparison is also made of the 

 body-weights of the diabetics before onset with those in disease, and data given 

 regarding the loss in weight of some 200 diabetics. To obtain evidence as to whether 

 or not the metabolism is increased in diabetes, the results secured with the individual 

 subjects are compared with the data found in experiments with one or more normal 

 individuals who were comparable in body-weight and height. Comparisons are also 

 made of the metabolism of diabetics with varying degrees of severity and under 

 varying conditions as to the intensity of the acidosis, thus giving opportunity to 

 study the relationship between the severity of the diabetes and the degree of in- 

 creased metabolism. Further evidence is supplied by a study of the influence of an 

 experimentally induced acidosis upon the metabolism of a normal individual, experi- 

 ments being made with two subjects in which a carbohydrate-free diet was given. 



As a result of these investigations, the conclusion is drawn that the metabolism 

 in diabetes is increased above the normal about 15 per cent, thus confirming the 

 conclusion given in the first report. The authors also believe that there is a close 

 relation between the intensity of the metabolism and the severity of the disease, this 

 being indicated not only in the comparison of the metabolism in light cases of dia- 

 betes with that in severe cases, but also in the comparison of the metabolism of the 

 same individual with varying degrees of acidosis, and by the fact that normal indi- 

 viduals on a carbohydrate-free diet showed an increase in metabolism. 



No. 155. BENEDICT, FRANCIS G., and EDGAR P. SLACK. A Comparative Study of 

 Temperature Fluctuations in Different Parts of the Human Body. Oc- 

 tavo, v+73 pages, 38 figures. Published 1911. Price $0.50. 



In the research reported in this publication, a study was made of the simulta- 

 neous fluctuations in body-temperature with reference to determining (1) the best 

 place for an accurate and constant measurement of body-temperature; (2) the 

 temperature gradient of the body ; and especially (3) whether or not the tempera- 

 ture fluctuations occurring in the different parts of the body are uniform. The 

 thermal-junction method was employed and a special apparatus was constructed, 

 which consisted of electrical measuring instruments, a thermal-junction system, and 

 a constant-temperature oven. The apparatus and method are described in detail. 



In studying the thermal gradient of the body the rectum was used with men, and 

 the rectum and the vagina with a woman. The measurements were usually made 

 with a double thermometer inserted at varying depths, the results being presented in 

 the form of curves. In selecting the localities for the measurement of the body- 

 temperatures, a special study was made of temperature measurements in the mouth 

 with both clinical thermometers and thermal-junction thermometers. 



In the study of the simultaneous fluctuations of body-temperature, 24 experiments 

 were made, the subjects including five men and one woman. Measurements were 

 obtained of the temperature in the rectum, vagina, and mouth, also in various arti- 

 ficial cavities, such as in the closed axilla and groin, between the clasped hands, and 

 at various surface points which could be sufficiently closed by flesh to form a tem- 

 porary cavity. These results are also expressed in the form of curves. 



The discussion considers such questions as the temperature gradient, the effect 

 of various superimposed factors on body-temperature, and the course of the tem- 

 perature curves in different parts of the body drawn from simultaneous observations. 



The general conclusion is drawn from the research that, aside from the skin 

 temperature, a rise or fall in temperature of the rectum or vagina is accompanied 

 by an equal rise or fall in temperature of all other parts of the body. 



