PULSE-RATE. 389 



It is thus seen that the general picture of a marked fall in pulse-rate 

 is indicated in every case; the only variations are in the degree of the 

 fall. A comparison between the maximum normal pulse and the min- 

 imum pulse found on any day of reduced diet would indicate the 

 maximum variations for the subjects. 



When it is remembered that the pulse-rates recorded in table 80 

 are the average of not less than 3 and for the most part 6 or more 

 counts, it is seen that we deal here not with isolated 1-minute counts, 

 but with a true representation of the pulse level for that particular 

 day. That fluctuations occurred from time to time from uncon- 

 trollable causes, even during the morning, was frequently noted by 

 some of our observers. Such illustrations were sometimes recorded by 

 one of the student observers, Mr. Charles Wesley Davis, who assisted 

 in the pulse counts at Springfield. From his thesis prepared in con- 

 nection with his college work, we have selected for record here the 

 following instances of somewhat rapid changes in pulse-rate during the 

 morning experiments. 



On October 24, while Pec was resting on the cot during the morning experi- 

 ment, a sudden nervous impulse caused him to kick his leg. As a result, 

 his pulse-rate jumped from 42 to 52 for a minute. When Kon first came on 

 the squad for experimentation, Dr. Roth spoke to him about keeping awake. 

 His pulse, which had been 44, immediately went to 58. Gul had a habit of 

 taking occasional deep yawns during his morning tests. His pulse always 

 went up after such a yawn, his average rise being from 6 to 10. Mon and 

 Tom were examples of men whose pulse fluctuated at intervals for no 

 apparent reason. Upon questioning the men, it was often found that they 

 had been thinking of something exciting, A striking example of the psychical 

 effect upon the pulse was noted with Gar on November 14. His pulse-rate 

 rose from 36 to 50, yet he remained perfectly quiet. He admitted later 

 he had been thinking about an examination that was due on the same 

 morning and was doubtful about his knowledge of the subject. Mon's pulse 

 showed sudden and wide variations from slight changes in body position. 

 When he first lay down on the cot January 30, his pulse was 56 per minute. 

 Eleven minutes later he was asleep with a pulse-rate of 46. After he 

 changed to another cot and the mask was attached for the respiration 

 experiment, his pulse went to 54. 



The maximum and minimum pulse-rates, with differences, are shown 

 at the bottom of table 80. Usually the maximum occurred during the 

 first week, when the subject was on a normal diet. Certain excep- 

 tions to this are noted in the footnotes. In some instances the pulse- 

 rate was reduced nearly one-half, notably so in the case of Vea and Kon. 

 It should furthermore be noted that the maximum with Kon occurred 

 immediately after his return from the Christmas holidays. The same 

 is true for the absolute maximum for Can and Tom. The subsequent 

 course of the pulse during January, however, with neither Kon nor 

 Tom reached as low a level as was recorded earlier, although with 

 Kon a subsequent value as low as 38 was obtained. In general, it 



