1 86 REPORTS ON INVESTIGATIONS AND PROJECTS. 



the cun-es are compared with the measurements of the metabolism, the influ- 

 ence of such activity is very evident. It may be safely said that without this 

 graphic record of the muscular activity, the results obtained for the metab- 

 olism have but little value. 



RESPIRATION APPARATUS FOR INFANTS. 



With a view to studying the metabolism of infants, a respiration chamber 

 was devised in which, by means of a movable bed or crib, a record could be 

 obtained of the slight movements of the child. This chamber can be attached 

 to any one of the numerous motors in the laboratory accompanied by purify- 

 ing devices, and the total carbon dioxide produced by the infant can thus be 

 accurately measured. The apparatus has proved very successful and a 

 number of experiments have already been made with it. 



VACUUM DRYING APPARATUS. 



The desirability of avoiding high temperatures in desiccating compounds 

 of physiological importance has long been recognized, and accordingly a 

 double-valved Geryk high-vacuum pump, connected with special forms of 

 large-sized desiccators, has been installed in the laboratory. The pump is 

 substantially placed against a heavy partition wall in the machine-shop and is 

 driven by a belt from one of the line-shafts. A pipe leads to a battery of 

 three large-sized desiccators in one of the other basement rooms. By this 

 means the compounds can be dried over sulphuric acid in a high vacuum at 

 room temperature, and the inevitable changes in composition incidental to 

 high temperature avoided. 



COOPERATING AND VISITING INVESTIGATORS. 



In the researches in diabetes mellitus now in progress, Dr. E. P. Joslin has 

 been actively interested, and, together with his associate, Dr. F. A. Stanwood, 

 has contributed much to the success of these investigations. 



Dr. John Homans has continued throughout the year his investigations on 

 the influence of the removal of the hypophysis, and the results of his re- 

 searches are about to be prepared for publication. 



A study of the metabolism of normal babies has been begun through the 

 interest and active cooperation of Dr. Fritz Talbot, of Boston. He has been 

 able to secure a number of breast-fed babies for subjects, and has personally 

 devoted much time to a careful study of the problems involved. 



After several years of active experimenting on the influence upon meta- 

 bolism of the removal of the pancreas or of ligating the pancreatic ducts, 

 Dr. Joseph H. Pratt has cooperated with the Nutrition Laboratory in an 

 investigation upon the digestibility and specific dynamic action of protein 

 ingested by dogs from which the pancreas has been removed. In connection 

 with his associate, Dr. L. H. Spooner, these researches have been well estab- 

 lished and are now nearing completion. 



With a view to making a practical application of his observations on the 

 renewal and regeneration of air in submarines, Passed Assistant Surgeon 



