448 



Influence of Inanition on Metabolism. 



apparatus/ 86 and the results of a series of experiments covering 24 days have 

 been recently published. 137 



So far as we are aware, the first determinations of the oxygen consumption 

 of fasting man are reported herewith. The method has been considered in 

 brief in the introductory section of this report and in detail elsewhere. 188 The 

 accuracy of these measurements has also received special treatment. In brief, 

 it may be said that for experiments of 24 hours or longer the results are 

 extremely satisfactory. For 2-hour periods the oxygen determinations are 

 satisfactory only when there is like muscular activity at the beginning and 

 end of the period, since constancy in the average temperature of the air 

 residual in the chamber is of the utmost importance in securing accurate oxygen 

 measurements. 139 



The detailed data regarding oxygen during the 2-hour periods of the fasting 

 experiments are given in the statistical data in the preceding section. The 

 total amounts of oxygen consumed during each 24 hours are shown in the 

 following table : 



Table 224 shows that the total oxygen consumption during fasting may vary 

 widely with different individuals. Thus, on the second day of experiment No. 

 82, 734 grams were absorbed, while on the sixth and seventh days of experi- 

 ment No. 75, only 466 grams were consumed. The average for the first 2 

 days of fast is nearly the same, i. e., 591 and 609 grams. The amounts are 



184 Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication No. 42, p. 178. 



1,7 U. S. Dept. Agr., Office of Expt. Sta. Bui. 175 (1907). 



^Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication No. 42; U. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Office of Expt. Sta. Bui. 175. 



130 For discussion of the errors affecting the oxygen determination see Office of 

 Expt. Sta. Bui. 175, pp. 24-32. 



