FOODS HUMAN NUTRITION- 567 



The subject of the experiment subsisted entirely without foofl, but ingested 

 750 CO. of water daily. In order to investigate completely the physiological 

 and psychological conditions prevailing at intervals during the fasting period, 

 measurements were made of body weight, body temperature, pulse rate, and 

 blood pressure. These were supplemented by frequent blood tests and determi- 

 nations of the mechanics of respiration by measuring the ventilation of the 

 lungs, the alveolar air, and the respiration rate. In addition to these tests, 

 records were kept of examinations of the urine, for the direct determination 

 of nitrogen, acid and basic radicles, carbon, and energy. It was i)0ssible also to 

 study the subject's mental attitude during the fast and to make psychological 

 tests. 



By means of the universal respiration apparatus was studied the influence of 

 various factors upon the respiratory exchange, observations being made while 

 the subject was at rest, while doing light work (writing), and while breathing 

 air rich in oxygen. The metabolism was also studied by means of the respira- 

 tion calorimeter, the subject sleeping each night in a body calorimeter. 



The data are summarized to describe the nature and extent of the catabolism, 

 including both material and energy losses from the body. 



Basal metabolism and body surface — a contribution to the normal data, 

 J. H. Means (Jour. Biol. Chcm., 21 (.1915), No. 2, pp. 26S-268, figs. ^).— Deter- 

 minations are reported of the basal metabolism of 16 normal subjects, using the 

 Benedict universal respiration apparatus. The surface area was also calcu- 

 lated by the formulas used by other Investigators, and the accuracy of these 

 formulas is discussed. 



The water content and temperature of expired air, G. Galeotti (Pfliiger's 

 Arch. Physiol., 160 (WW, No. 1-3, pp. 27-Ifl, fig. i).— This paper reports a 

 study of the actual water content of expired air under normal conditions and 

 as affected by the humidity and temperature of the environment. The tempera- 

 ture of the exhaled air was studied with regard to its humidity, the regularity 

 of breathing, the influence of inhaling warm air, and the effect produced by a 

 cold bath. 



The temperature of the expired air was found to vary from 34.4° to 35.7° C. 

 at a room temperature of from 1G° to 25°. Both the temi>erature and the 

 humidity of the environment influenced these factors in the expired air. The 

 effect of the cold bath was to lower the temperature of the air. As a result 

 of these observations the author concludes that the vasomotor condition of the 

 lungs influences the temperature and consequently the water content of the 

 expired air. 



The temperature of expired air, G. Galeotti, V, Scaffidi, and O. Baekan 

 {Arch. Ital. Biol., 62 {191Jf), No. 3, pp. 411-420). — Measurements are reported 

 of the temperatures of the body and of the expired air under normal conditions, 

 after fatigue, and under the influences of cold and cutaneous vaso-dilation. 



At a room temperature of 10° C., that of the expired air was 33 to 34°. 

 By increasing the temperature of the environment (16 to 25°) the temperature 

 of the expired air was raised somewhat (34.4 to 35.7°). After fatigue this 

 ^'alue remained within normal limits. These experiments are supplementary 

 to those reviewed above. 



Researches on the exchange of energy in live animal tissues. — I, Micro- 

 calorimetry applied to animal tissues, A. O. DeAxmeida (Amer. Jour. Physiol., 

 S7 {1915), No. 3, pp. 505-514, figs. 2). — The author describes the technique and 

 apparatus employed in experiments designed to measure the heat developed by 

 animal tissue separated from the organism. 



Investigations at the nutrition laboratory of the Carnegie Institution of 

 Washington, Boston, Massachusetts, F. G. Benedict {Science, n. ser., 42 



