206 METABOLISM AND GROWTH FROM BIRTH TO PUBERTY. 



for making the calculations of the body-surface by the Du Bois method, 

 it seems unwise to tabulate the changes in metabolism for each tenth 

 of a square meter. These can always be obtained by direct inspection 

 of the curves in figures 38 and 39 in case surface-area measurements 

 are made. 



TABLE 36. Basal heat production of boys and girls per 24 hours predicted from body-weight. 



24-HOUR ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OF GROWING CHILDREN. 



With all of these children, the only activity possible was the move- 

 ment of the arms and legs while the child lay on a bed or cot inside 

 the respiration chamber. There could be no running about and no 

 external muscular work performed. An earlier discussion 1 of the 

 possibilities of an increased metabolism due to the muscular activity 

 of an infant in the lying position has shown that on the average a 

 maximum increase in metabolism of 65 per cent (in exceptional cases 

 of over 200 per cent) may be obtained as a result of vigorous kicking 

 and convulsive crying on the part of a new-born infant. 



While our studies were primarily for an investigation of the basal 

 metabolism, and consequently the greatest degree of repose was sought 

 by every possible means, we incidentally secured a considerable amount 

 of data with regard to muscular activity. Certain of the children were 

 restless, so much so that the observations had to be stopped. With 

 very young infants there was at times crying, but with all these condi- 

 tions the children were lying in bed. Aside "from the gross records on 



1 Benedict and Talbot, Carnegie Inst. Wash. Pub. No. 233, 1915, p. 111. 



