238 A BIOMETRIC STUDY OF BASAL METABOLISM IN MAN. 



per cent higher than they would be expected to have if they were 

 adults of the same height and weight. The average superiority of the 

 boys is 19.7 per cent of the standard. Thus if the boys were able to 

 remain in complete muscular repose during the experimental periods, 

 and if the light breakfast had no measureable influence on their metab- 

 olism, so that the constants may be looked upon as truly basal, it is 

 evident that the metabolism is relatively high at the onset of puberty, 

 and that the decrease from this period to that of maturity is more 

 rapid than during adult life. 



TABLE 94. Comparison of metabolism of German boys and girls studied by Magnus-Levy 

 and Falk with American normal (multiple prediction) adult, standards. 



Turning to the data for youth presented by Magnus-Levy and 

 Falk, the comparison of observed and theoretical values in table 94 

 shows that without exception the boys are characterized by a higher 

 heat-production than would be expected if metabolism showed the 

 same rate of change from childhood to maturity as it does from matur- 

 ity to old age, and if the relationship between physical dimensions 

 and metabolism were the same in developing as in mature individuals. 

 The excess ranges from 81 to 297 calories and on the average is 161.1 

 calories for the 15 boys and youths. On a relative scale, the differences 

 between observation and theory are from 5.1 to 34.7 per cent of the 

 latter, with a general average of 15.6 per cent. 



The results for the few girls are not so consistent. As to the reason 



