442 



Influence of Inanition on Metabolism. 



Table 221. Carbon dioxide production of fasting men, at rest. 



/_ 



1 In computing body surface the formula of Meeh has been used : 12.312 V bodv-weight. 



2 Average of 3 days. 



8 TJ. S. Dep. Agr., Office of Experiment Stations, Bui. 136. 

 * Experiments of one day's duration. 



Although there were wide variations in body-weight of the subjects of the 

 experiments shown in this table, the amount of carbon dioxide per kilo of 

 body-weight eliminated per 24 hours is not far from 9.5 grams, and per square 

 meter of body surface about 320 grams. Little value can be placed upon the 

 regularity or irregularity of results obtained by methods differing as widely 

 as these, but as was pointed out above, in all probability the determination of 

 carbon dioxide was reasonably accurate in all the experiments, and the varia- 

 tions appearing in the different amounts are probably due to muscular activity 

 more than to any other factor. Indeed, when reduced to per kilo of body- 

 weight and per square meter of body surface, the results show, even in experi- 

 ments with the same subject, variations that can seemingly be explained in no 

 way save by differences in muscular activity. The influence of an increase in 

 muscular activity on the carbon dioxide production may well account for the 

 Blight differences here observed, even in experiments generally designated as 

 rest experiments. 



