Metabolism Experiment No. 59. 21 



as nearly as possible, on all days of the experiment, and that the times for 

 urinating, rising, weighing, and retiring should be regular. Since previous 

 experience had shown that greater accuracy was obtained in the analyses of 

 the respiratory gases if during the waking hours the subject took special precau- 

 tions to remain as quiet as possible for the half hour preceding the end of each 

 experimental period, he was cautioned to spend this last half hour of each 

 period in sitting quietly in the chair, reading or writing. 



The subject entered the calorimeter chamber during the early evening of 

 December 17. The bedding, urine bottles, feces can, and such books as the sub- 

 ject wished, together with all the articles too large to pass through the food 

 aperture, had been placed in the chamber before the large plate-glass window 

 which closes it was sealed in place. 



In addition to a union suit of underwear, stockings, a light sweater, and 

 trousers, the subject wore a pair of heavy-soled shoes primarily designed to 

 prevent the conduction of heat from the soles of the feet to the metal floor of 

 the chamber. Subsequent experience showed that these special shoes are un- 

 necessary. 



After entering the respiration chamber, the subject adjusted the rectal ther- 

 mometer and prepared for his three days' stay in the calorimeter by placing 

 his bedding, books, and other articles in convenient positions on the shelves. 

 Shortly before 11 p. m. he retired for the night, and at 1 a. m. the first pre- 

 liminary period began. By this time the calorimeter chamber had reached 

 temperature equilibrium and the preliminary air analyses had been made. 

 The absorbing vessels used to purify the air were changed at the end of each 

 experimental period, i. e., every 3 hours. The regular air analyses were made 

 at 7 a. m. daily. 



Routine. The general routine followed during this experiment was as fol- 

 lows : At 7 a. m. the subject rose, dressed, and weighed himself on a platform 

 scale inside the chamber, and then spent the rest of the day sitting or lying 

 down. A considerable portion of each day was occupied with reading. Urine 

 was collected every 3 hours until 10 p. m., after which it was not collected 

 again until 7 a. m. the next day. The muscular movements were restricted 

 to moving about the chamber, caring for the excreta, opening and closing the 

 food aperture, telephoning, and dressing and undressing. 



Notes from diary. No plans for definitely testing the effect of the stay in 

 the respiration chamber on the mental or physical condition of the subjects 

 had been made, since no detrimental results were anticipated. Yet it seemed 

 desirable to obtain some notes concerning the psychical and physical condition 

 of the men as recorded by themselves. For this reason each subject was in- 

 structed to keep a diary, in which he was at liberty to record anything he chose 



