CHARACTER OF THE KATABOLISM. 



91 



frequently given, would naturally tend to increase the weight some- 

 what. On the other hand, the 170 grams of body- weight lost on the 

 first day can not in any way be considered as being a loss of either 

 flesh or fat, but, as was pointed out in a preceding section, was doubtless 

 due in large part to a loss of water from the body. 



It was noted that the establishment of the flow of milk was, as a rule, 

 coincident with an increase in the respiratory quotient. Here again we 

 find in considering the records of the body-weight that this factor also 

 tends to increase at the time that the milk-flow is established. In 

 general, therefore, after the first day the infant loses weight while the 

 food-supply is insufficient, particularly in carbohydrate, and increases 

 in weight when the milk-supply is established. 



INFLUENCE OF BODY-WEIGHT UPON THE RESPIRATORY QUOTIENT. 



Since it was possible that the store of glycogen in the body of the 

 infant might vary considerably with variations in the size and nourish- 

 ment, the respiratory quotients were compared with the body- weights 

 of the infants. This comparison is shown in figure 2, in which the 

 actual body-weights of the infants during the first 24 hours are plotted 



Body Weight. Kilos. 

 FIG. 2. Respiratory quotient of infants in first 24 hours referred to total body-weight. 



against the respiratory quotients obtained for the same period. A 

 careful examination of the chart shows no tendency toward a variation 

 in the average quotient as the weight varies. We must therefore infer 

 that the respiratory quotient is independent of the weight. 



Body Weight per Cm. of Length, Kilo. 



FIG. 3. Respiratory quotient of infants in first 24 hours referred to body-weight per 



unit of length of infant. 



