296 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



the output of heat. A technique has recently been developed in the 

 Laborator}^ by which it is possible to compute heat-production with 

 great accuracy by the relatively simple measurement of the oxygen 

 consumption in respiratory processes during periods as short as 10 to 

 15 minutes. This apparatus, which for obvious reasons has not been 

 patented and hence can be freely manufactured by any one, is now 

 being supplied in large numbers by several manufacturers to hospitals 

 and clinicians. 



The whole subject of the measurement of heat-production under 

 standard conditions, that is, the determination of the so-called "basal 

 metabohsm," has awakened great interest, this being evidenced by 

 the fact that at the meeting of the American Medical Association in 

 Boston (June 1921) a symposium on the subject was attended by over 

 1,200 physicians. It is most gratifjdng to all workers in the field of 

 pure physiology to feel that these efforts, undertaken with no imme- 

 diate thought of practical application, are meeting the needs of the 

 physician. 



ADDITIONS TO EQUIPMENT. 



Dreyer stadiometer. — An apparatus similar to that devised by Pro- 

 fessor Georges Dreyer, of Oxford, England, has been constructed by 

 Dr. Miles for measuring with the greatest degree of accuracy the sitting 

 and standing heights. These two factors are assuming great impor- 

 tance in determining the normality of individuals. 



HaJdane portable gas-analysis apparatus. — For the increased number 

 of gas analyses needed in his extensive researches, Dr. Carpenter has 

 installed a motor-driven arrangement of levers for raising and lowering 

 mercury levehng bulbs, so that it is now possible to conduct analyses 

 with seven Haldane apparatus at one time. 



Respiration apparatus for small laboratory animals. — In connection 

 with a projected research upon the basal metabolism of the white rat, 

 an apparatus was designed and constructed giving accurate measure- 

 ments of the carbon-dioxide production and oxygen consumption of 

 the white rat. This employs the well-known closed-circuit principle 

 so long in use in this Laboratory. The apparatus has been subjected 

 to the severest tests, entirely reconstructed, and is now ready for in- 

 stallation in the Department of Nutrition of the School of Practical 

 Arts, Teachers College, Columbia University, where a cooperative 

 research is planned for the coming year. 



An emission calorimeter for humans. — By employing the same type 

 of compensation device used for the study of the energy transformations 

 of geese during the conversion of carbohydrate to fat, two large cham- 

 bers, each of a size suitable for observations on man, have been devel- 

 oped, with the view of using this type of calorimeter for observations 

 on adults. The construction and testing of the apparatus are rapidly 

 progressing. 



