STANDARD BASAL METABOLISM CONSTANTS. 249 



ILLUSTRATION G. RATIONING IN PERIODS OF EMERGENCY. 



The problem of rationing in national crises involves so many factors 

 (biological, social, and economic) that general principles only can be 

 established. 



It is evident, however, that the fairest and the most advantageous 

 plan for the allotment of rations is that which is based on the physio- 

 logical needs of the individuals of the population under consideration. 

 For instance in an editorial 32 on the Inter-Allied Scientific Food 

 Commission we read : 



"The basal heat production of an average man weighing 156 pounds 

 (70 kg.) will be 70 calories an hour at rest and without food, or 1680 calories 

 in twenty-four hours." 



Body-weight is not, however, an adequate standard. The analysis 

 in the present volume shows that stature, weight, and age must all be 

 taken into account in determining the basal metabolism of the indi- 

 vidual, and hence in determining most exactly the food requirements 

 of a population. 



Our 136 men show an average weight of 64.1 kilograms instead of 

 the 70 kilograms ordinarily assumed as an average value. They show 

 an average basal metabolism of 1632 calories as compared with 1680 

 calories. Our men are on the average 26.9 years of age and 173 

 centimeters in height. If we assume that the men of a population 

 average 70 kg. in weight, 170 cm. in stature, and 35 years of age, we find 

 from tables I and II a basal requirement of 1029+614 = 1643 calories. 

 If we are considering a population of adult women weighing on the 

 average 56.0 kg., 162 cm. in height, and 35 years of age the values from 

 tables III and IV are 1191+136 = 1327 calories. 



These factors must, in practical rationing, be multiplied by the 

 requisite factors for the increased metabolism due to muscular and 

 other activity. 



4. RECAPITULATION. 



The purpose of this chapter, in which the principles underlying the 

 establishment of standard control series have been discussed, has been 

 three-fold. 



1. To emphasize the necessity for the establishment of statistical 

 normal basal metabolism standards, which may serve as a basis of 

 comparison in all special nutritional investigations. 



2. To supply convenient tables of such standards based on the 

 most extensive series of normal data as yet available. 



3. To illustrate the practical use of such tables in the solution of 

 problems in nutritional physiology. 



The analysis of this and the preceding chapters leads to the conclu- 

 sion that biologically the most rational and practically the most satis- 



2 Journ. Am. Med. Ass., 1918, 71, p 1660. Incompletely quoting Lusk, Journ. Am. Med. 

 Ass., 1918, 70, p. 821. 



