272 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



have been made at the Nutrition Laboratory or by those working in cooper- 

 ation with it, serve as a basis of the conclusions drawn. The original data, 

 many of which have not heretofore been pubHshed, are given in full. 



These data, the most extensive series as yet available, have been summarized 

 in terms of statistical constants (means, standard deviations, coefficients of 

 variation, coefficients of correlation, and regression equations) which must 

 serve as standard constants in metabolism work until those based upon more 

 extensive series of data are available. 



The relationships between certain of the physical and physiological measure- 

 ments of the human individual, and between the various physiological measure- 

 ments, have been expressed in terms of correlation coefficients and represented 

 by regression equations. The effect upon these correlations of correction for 

 other variables has also been discussed. The results from the data already 

 available amply illustrate the material advances in our knowledge of physio- 

 logical processes which may be expected when the interrelationship of the 

 physical and physiological variables shall be generally expressed on a quanti- 

 tative scale. 



The change in metaboUsm with age during the period of adult hfe is in- 

 vestigated in detail and equations for the correction of metabolism for age 

 have been given. The decrease in basal metabolism with age during the period 

 of adult life is approximately linear. 



The differentiation of the sexes in metaboHc activity is considered, with the 

 result that men have been shown by all of the series of tests appHed to have a 

 higher basal metabolism than women. 



The validity of the so-called body-surface law has been tested by criteria 

 hitherto unemployed. This "law" has been discussed as an empirical means 

 of predicting the metabolism of an unknown subject and as an expression of a 

 true physiological interrelationship. It has been shown that, as a basis for 

 predicting the metabohsm of an unknown subject, body-surface as estimated 

 by any of the formulae as yet available is inferior to equations given in this 

 volume. Grave doubt has also been thrown upon the physiological signifi- 

 cance of the so-called law. 



In connection with the investigation of the "body-surface law," various 

 methods of predicting the metabolism of an unknown subject have been con- 

 sidered and it has been shown that the most satisfactory results are obtained 

 by the use of multiple regression equations involving stature, weight, and age. 

 Standard tables have been prepared for men and women from which the most 

 probable metabohsm of a subject whose normal basal metabolism is unknown 

 may be easily determined. 



Illustrations are given of the wide usefulness of such tables in investigating 

 the problems of the typical or atypical nature of series of metabohsm measure- 

 ments, the problem of the differentiation of the sexes with respect to meta- 

 bohc activity, of the metabohsm of athletes as compared with non-athletic 

 individuals, and of individuals suffering from disease. 



(5) A biometric study of human basal metabolism. J. Arthur Harris and Francis G. 



Benedict. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 4, 370 (1918). 



An abbreviated presentation of the material in Publication No. 279, Car- 

 negie Institution of Washington (1919). 



(6) Biometric standards for energy requirements in human nutrition. J. Arthur Harris 



and Francis G. Benedict. Sci. Monthly, 8, 385 (1919). 



An outline of some of the problems which require consideration in estabhsh- 

 ing normal standards for work in human nutrition is given in this paper, which 

 was preliminary to the detailed report of the biometric study of basal metab- 



