DISCUSSION OF RESULTS. 



137 



3 h 23 m p. m.) with an activity of VI has a heat-production and pulse-rate 

 slightly less than the last period (that from 4 h 31 ra p. m. to 5 h l m p. m.) with 

 an activity of V. This again illustrates the anomalies observed in comparisons 

 with the results obtained in the preliminary period. 



Table 30. — Comparison of the pulse-rate, metabolism, and muscular activity in 

 observation with F. K., May 2, 1913. 



•Preliminary period. 



Additional comparisons of the muscular activity, the pulse-rate, and the 

 metabolism may be made by reference to the kymograph curves given with 

 the discussion of the relationship between the muscular activity and the pulse- 

 rate. 1 The data regarding the pulse-rates and the metabolism will be found 

 in table 23, 2 which gives the statistics for all of the observations. 



SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RELATIONSHIPS. 



From the preceding discussion the conclusion may be drawn that 

 only periods of complete muscular repose may be used in comparing 

 the results obtained with different individuals and with the same indi- 

 viduals on different days. The total katabolism of the infant is the 

 resultant of two factors: First, the metabolism due to the internal 

 activity incidental to circulation and respiration and the general muscle 

 tonus of the body, t. e., maintenance metabolism; second, the meta- 

 bolism due to the external muscular activity, which may vary from 

 slight movements of the hand or fingers to violent movements inci- 

 dental to severe crying. 



The internal muscular activity of the infant may also be affected 

 by the ingestion of food and, as with adults, it may be affected by the 

 general condition of the body, such as in disease or immediately follow- 

 ing severe illness. For a short time after feeding, provided essentially 

 the same kind and amount of food is given, it may be assumed that 

 the metabolism due to internal muscular activity is fairly constant 3 

 with an infant. The effect of the ingestion of food upon the internal 

 muscular activity of the infant is discussed elsewhere in this report, 4 

 but here we compare primarily the metabolism during complete muscu- 

 lar repose and during various degrees of muscular activity. 



The external muscular movements are recorded with considerable 

 fidelity upon the kymograph drum by means of the registering appa- 



^ee p. 118. 2 See p. 84. Schlossmann, Deutsche med. Wochenschr. 1911, 37, p. 1635. 

 4 See p. 145. 



