GASEOUS METABOLISM DURING REST. 



523 



respectively. The minimum carbon-dioxide excretion per hour for 

 the low-diet period, as found with the group chamber, also the com- 

 puted heat per kilogram per hour and per square meter per hour are 

 given in table 134. The normal values, previously recorded in table 

 114, are also included in this table. With the change to a much- 

 restricted diet, there was a pronounced decrease in the carbon-dioxide 

 production, a decrease in the heat per kilogram per hour amounting 

 to but 1 per cent, and an appreciable decrease in the heat per square 

 meter per hour. On January 20 the heat on both bases of computa- 

 tion was lower; on January 28 the minimum values were found. 



Table 134. — Minimum metabolism during sleep as measured in group respiration 



chamber — Squad B. 



In examining this table one particularly regrets that normal values 

 immediately subsequent to January 6 were not obtained before the 

 restriction in diet was begun. The pronounced fall in the metabolism 

 from December 16 to January 6, which, as previously stated, we are 

 unable to explain, should have been further studied.^ Although the 

 fact that the heat per kilogram fell only slightly on January 14 might 

 indicate that a further fall without dietetic restriction was hardly 

 probable, nevertheless it represents a faulty point in the experimental 

 plan. To begin a study of the effect of a superimposed factor upon a 

 sliding base-line is experimentally bad. Furthermore, when so pro- 

 nounced a fall in metabolism was shown on January 28, it is much to 

 be regretted that the experiment could not have continued further. 

 It will be remembered that Squad B was placed upon a restricted diet 

 for the main purpose of obtaining data for comparison with some of 

 the important findings noted in the earlier phases of the experiment 

 with Squad A. Squad B, with a praiseworthy self-sacrificing spirit, 

 volunteered to live upon this greatly restricted diet for a short period, 

 so that the desired data might be obtained. 



* See note on page 500. 



