?>> Influence of Inanition on Metabolism. 



A Series of Two-day Fasting Experiments with Seven Subjects. 

 Metabolism Experiments Nos. 79-83, 85, and 89. 



The fasting experiments thus far given in this report furnished data for 

 studying the metabolism during inanition of but 3 persons. It seemed im- 

 portant therefore to make studies with a large number of men, in order to 

 verify some of the deductions rendered possible by the previous experiments. 

 Particularly was it desired to ascertain the length of time required by different 

 individuals for the transition from katabolism with food to fasting katabolism, 

 i. e., the duration of the transitional period. More information was also 

 sought concerning the effect of inanition on the pulse and observations were 

 made of the influence of fasting on the respiration, strength, and the onset of 

 fatigue. 



Accordingly, 7 fasting experiments of 2 days' duration were made with 

 different subjects during the autumn and winter of 1905-1906, the results of 

 the series being given below. Following experiments Nos. 83, 85, and 89, 

 24-hour food experiments were made, the data of which are not included in 

 this publication. 



The 7 men who served as subjects in this series of 2-day fasts were students 

 in Wesleyan University, young men in good health. Two of them had prev- 

 iously been in the calorimeter for short periods of about 24 hours, but the 

 others were inexperienced. It seemed best, therefore, to accustom the men 

 to the environment of the calorimeter and hence each subject entered the 

 chamber approximately 12 hours before the experiment proper began. 



Measurements of subjects. In order to give some idea of the physique of 

 the subjects and their muscular development, the measurements of each man, 

 as recorded in the university gymnasium, are shown below. The measurements 

 of H. E. S., A. H. M., and H. C. K., were taken at times very near to that 

 of their respective experiments. The others were measured somewhat earlier, 

 8 months previous in the case of H. R. D., and the considerable period of 

 about 3 years and 2 months in the case of N". M. P. D. W. was a football and 

 baseball player and had unquestionably developed to an extent beyond that 

 shown by the measurements here given. 



Notes from diaries. Each subject kept a diary during his stay in the calori- 

 meter. The diaries have been abstracted, and such notes as relate to the 

 physical and mental condition are shown below. 



