244 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE ON METABOLISM. 



With the special form of clinical respiration chamber mentioned in 

 the earlierpart of this report, and the assistance of MissM. F. Hendry and 

 Miss I. A. Boles, an extended series of observations on the influence of 

 temperature environment upon metabolism was made with a profes- 

 sional artist's model in the nude condition. The subject experienced 

 no discomfort from environmental temperatures ranging from 15° C. 

 (59° F.) to 30° C. (86° F.). Since the construction of the chamber 

 permitted measurements of the water of vaporization and the gaseous 

 exchange, apportionment of heat elimination between direct radiation 

 and conduction on the one hand and vaporization of water on the other 

 may be made. An elaborate temperature study, showing variations in 

 the surface temperature of the subject in different experiments, accom- 

 panied the general investigation. The research is still in progress. 



METABOLISM OF COLD-BLOODED ANIMALS. 



The research at the New York Zoological Park has been most suc- 

 cessfully continued with the assistance of Mr. E. L. Fox, whose fideUty 

 to these tedious, time-consuming experiments, necessitating a constant 

 stay in the laboratory for weeks at a time, has been especially produc- 

 tive of results. During the last year emphasis has been laid upon the 

 digestive cycle of certain of the large snakes, particularly under dif- 

 ferent temperature environments. An unusual series of experiments 

 has also been made with two Texas rattlesnakes, in which the temper- 

 ature environment varied from 16° C. to 37° C. Aside from the sug- 

 gestion that these experiments make in regard to the feeding require- 

 ments of different animals, they have great significance in interpreting 

 some of the fundamental laws governing heat-production in the living 

 organism. Although the laboratory equipment still remains in New 

 York, the research has been temporarily suspended, owing to the co- 

 operation of Mr. Fox in another investigation which, on account of 

 war conditions, must receive prior attention. The study of the metab- 

 ohsm of cold-blooded animals will be resumed early in 1918. 



ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OF NORMAL INDIVIDUALS DURING SIMPLE, ORDINARY 



ACTIVITIES. 



While the basal resting metabolism of normal individuals may be 

 adequately studied and, indeed, a large amount of such information 

 is available, the metabolism of individuals performing simple household 

 or other domestic movements is relatively little studied. In cooper- 

 ation with the Department of Physiology of Simmons College, under 

 the active leadership of Professor Alice F. Blood, a series of observations 

 has been made on groups of young women ranging from 15 to 26 in 

 number. These experiments have been carried out with the large 

 respiration chamber, which permits the study of the metabohsm of a 



