224 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



the breathing of a confined volume of oxygen-rich air and measuring exactly 

 the amount of oxygen absorbed by the lungs of the subject. A can two-thirds 

 filled with soda-hme, a bathing-cap for expansion, two rubber valves and 

 housings, with rubber hose and mouthpiece, comprise the respiration system. 

 Dry room air is forced quantitatively (by an automobile grease-gun) into 

 the can as the oxygen is absorbed. From the volume of 6 full strokes of the 

 air-pump, the temperature of the pump, the barometer, and the time in 

 minutes, the actual oxygen consumption is rapidly computed. The appa- 

 ratus lends itself also to the determination, by students, of the vital capacity. 



(8) Ein einfacher Respirationsapparat. Francis G. Benedict and Cornelia Golay Bene- 



dict. Skand. Arch. f. Physiol., vol. 44, pp. 87-102 (1923). 



A somewhat different treatment for foreign readers of the Enghsh descrip- 

 tion (just cited) of a new respiration apparatus. 



(9) A permissible breakfast prior to basal-metabolism measurements. Cornelia Golay 



Benedict and Francis G. Benedict. Boston Med. and Surg. Jour., vol. 188, pp. 

 849-851 (1923). 



One discomfort commonly experienced by all subjects of basal-metabolism 

 measurements is the feeling of hunger caused by the necessity of abstaining 

 from food completely for at least 12 hours. A hght breakfast was therefore 

 planned, to satisfy the appetite but not unduly stimulate metabolism and 

 thus vitiate the basal-metabolism measurements. This breakfast consists 

 of 1 cup (200 c. c.) of caffeine-free coffee, 16 mg. of saccharin, 30 grams of 

 medium cream, and 25 grams of potato chips. Its effect upon the basal 

 metabolism was studied by making basal-metabolism measurements until 

 a well-established base-hne was found, then giving the breakfast, and sub- 

 sequently continuing the metabohsm measurements until the base-line was 

 again reached. Two subjects, a man and a woman, were studied and the 

 student form of respiration apparatus was employed. The results make it 

 quite clear that a meal of this type does not produce any measurable influence 

 upon metabolism and, with normal individuals, can not interfere with basal- 

 metabolism measurements, provided the food is completely eaten at least 

 one hour prior to the tests. It has not been demonstrated, however, that 

 even this small quantity of food might not stimulate further the abnormally 

 high metabohsm obtaining in disturbances of the endocrine glands. Tests 

 along this hne should be carefully made before permitting the light break- 

 fast in general in pathological cases; but it is believed that ordinarily with 

 normal individuals the sense of euphoria resulting from the warm and satis- 

 fying, though light, meal will actually make for less discomfort, less irrita- 

 bility, and ultimately for a greater degree of accuracy in basal-metabolism 

 measurements. 



(10) Diabetic metabolism with high and low diets. Elliott P. Joslin. Carnegie Inst. 



Wash. Pub. No. 323 (1923). 334 pp. 



A report is given of metabohsm studies with 113 diabetics between the 

 years of 1908 and 1917, which includes not only the data for the 24 patients 

 previously discussed in Publications Nos. 136 and 176, but also the results 

 obtained with 89 diabetics studied subsequent to 1911. The research in- 

 cluded 456 experiments with the diabetics in the post-absorptive state and 

 205 experiments after food. 



