216 



Metabolism of Healthy Max. 



higher respiratory quotient than during the following period, thus indicating 

 that during this period, the influence of the preceding diet is still apparent. 

 This is not invariably the case, however, and we have, therefore, to deal either 

 with slight changes in the nature of the materials katabolized or possible errors 

 in the determinations. As a rule, however, in experiments which are more or 

 less continued, and in which the preliminary period is immediately followed or 

 shortly followed by a period without food, the respiratory quotient is somewhat 

 lowered as the fast progresses. 



Table 90. Respiratory quotient during preliminary night (1 a. m. 



first hours of fast. 



to 7 a. m.) and 



1 The subject had not eaten since about 9 a. in. on the preceding day. 



An examination of table 90 shows that even 12 hours after the last meal, the 

 respiratory quotient is not constant with the same individual. For example, 

 with the first subject, B. F. D., in the experiment of December 18, 1903, the 

 respiratory quotient from 10 a. m. to 1 p. m. was 0.81; in the experiment of 

 May 6, 1905, from 9 a. m. to 1 p. m., the respiratory quotient was 0.87. With 

 the subject H. E. D. in the experiments of May 18, February 10, and March 24, 

 190G, the values were 0.85, 0.84, and 0.76, respectively. Many other subjects 



