384 VITALITY AND EFFICIENCY WITH RESTRICTED DIET. 



under the varying conditions of normal and restricted diet. Hence 

 we required careful records of the pulse-rate, since it is one of the most 

 important physiological indices. Throughout the entire series of 

 observations pulse-rates were very frequently obtained. Realizing that 

 those found during complete muscular repose and with the post- 

 absorptive condition would be of greatest significance, we invariably 

 secured records of the pulse-rate during the respiration experiments 

 with Squad A which were made each morning at Springfield. Records 

 were also obtained at the conclusion of the night experiments with the 

 large respiration chamber in Boston. For Squad A we have but a 

 relatively few observations of pulse-rate with normal diet for compari- 

 son with the records after the diet restriction began. Pulse-rates for 

 Squad B with muscular repose and post-absorptive condition were 

 secured only at the end of the Boston night experiments. As indicated 

 in the section on technique, the pulse-rate was taken chiefly by count 

 at the wrist by an experienced observer, although a number of 

 pulse-rates were recorded photographically with body electrodes and 

 the string galvanometer. 



In view of the rather important relationship between pulse-rate and 

 the body position and general physical activity, we have subdivided 

 our pulse measurements into several sections according to the experi- 

 mental conditions and particularly the body position of the subject: 

 (1) lying in the post-absorptive condition; (2) standard electro- 

 cardiograms; (3) lying in the middle of the forenoon or middle of the 

 afternoon prior to bicycle riding; (4) sitting with pulse counted either 

 by the subject himself or by an observer at various times throughout 

 the day, invariably with food in the stomach; (5) standing during 

 respiration experiments, or on the treadmill; (6) reclining after short 

 periods of muscular exertion; (7) in the periods of transition from stand- 

 ing to walking, and walking to standing; (8) during the actual process 

 of walking on the treadmill ; and (9) lying after a few minutes of brisk 

 bicycle riding, during a special study of the influence of muscular work 

 upon the return of the pulse-rate to normal. 



DAILY BASAL PULSE-RATE WITH LYING POSITION. SQUAD A. 



The pulse-rates secured with the subject lying in the post-absorptive 

 condition — i. e., the conditions obtaining during the measurement of 

 basal metabolism — should first be considered. For these we have very 

 complete records for Squad A extending throughout the entire period 

 of observation, namely, from September 27 to February 3, inclusive. 

 These records were secured under uniform conditions and for the most 

 part in Sprincfield, but a few were made in Boston. The daily aver- 

 ages are expressed in table 80 as pulse-rates per minute. The pulse- 

 rates prior to the morning of October 5 were obtained with the subjects 

 on normal diet. The pulse-rates for subsequent days were recorded 



