DU BOIS: BASAL ENERGY REQUIREMENT OF MAN 357 



been studied in the calorimeter in association with Dr. Allen, 

 and it has been found that during the period of low diet there is 

 a great reduction in the level of the basal metabolism. The 

 organism adapts itself to the new conditions and seems to 

 straighten out its internal difficulties when living economically. 



In this short lecture we have been able to discuss briefly a 

 few of the factors which influence the basal metabolism in health 

 and disease. It is only through a study of such factors that we 

 can place dietetics and particularly hospital dietetics on a sci- 

 entific basis. In most institutions the patients are fed accord- 

 ing to customs and habits inherited by trained nurses from pre- 

 vious generations. Perhaps in the course of years the food of 

 sick men may be as scientifically administered as the food of the 

 chickens and cows on a modern farm. 



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