142 METABOLISM AND GROWTH FROM BIRTH TO PUBERTY. 



ranges, represents a relatively small percentage deviation. A com- 

 parison of the percentage deviations for these children with those 

 for adults has special interest, since with adults it was noted that 

 the scatter of the individual points from the central line was very 

 considerable. In consideration of the rapidly changing body-mass 

 with children, the compact arrangement of the points in these charts 

 has, however, a somewhat greater significance. With pronounced 



Cals. 



TOTAL CALORIES REFERRED TO WEIGHT. 



GIRLS. 



FIG. 27. Basal heat production of girls per 24 hours referred to body-weight. 

 Points inclosed in squares signify puberty established. For No. 239 compare point inclosed in 

 diamond (prepubescence) with point inclosed in square at 39.2 kg. (puberty) . 



alterations in area, stature, and weight, such a stringent conformity 

 co the central tendency may not be expected as with well-developed 

 adults. So close are these points, on the whole, to the general curves 

 for the boys and girls that the possibility is considered later of using 

 the two curves for predicting the metabolism of children whose basal 

 heat output is unknown. (See page 205.) 



TOTAL METABOLISM OF CHILDREN REFERRED TO WEIGHT (EARLIER INVESTIGATORS). 



The special advantages of referring total metabolism measurements 

 to weight rather than to age observed with the children in this research 

 make it likewise important to inspect the values reported by other 



