Fisher — The Effect of Diet on Endurance. 31 



TABLE XIV. 



PERCENTAGE OF IMPEOVEMENT (exact or understated) 

 OF EIGHT MEN. 



The figures of Table XIV show an imdoubted increase in endur- 

 ance, both for the first half and more especially for the Avhole 

 period of the experiment. 



But, for an accurate presentation, we ma^^ carr}^ our criticism one 

 stage further. The figures given hitherto represent a conglomerate 

 sort of endurance, made up of endurance of different muscles subject 

 to different degrees of strain. As pointed out before, the calf mus- 

 cles were called upon for only a small fraction of their strength- 

 capacit}^ whereas the abdominal muscles were called upon for a very 

 large fraction. Moreover, the fraction must have varied somewhat 

 in different tests, according lo the variation in strength and. weight. 

 An ideal test would be one in which the same fraction of strength, 

 was used. ' 



Fortunately, such an exact test is afforded by the 25-lb. dumb- 

 bell. It followed immediatelv after the 50-lb. dumb-bell had been 

 I'aised until the biceps was unable to repeat the motion. At the 

 moment the 50-lb. test ended, the 25-lb. test began. At this moment 

 the strength of the biceps was just at or barely below the fifty lbs. 

 required to raise the heavier dumb-bell. In other words, in raising the 

 25-lb. dumb-bell the muscle needed just fifty per cent, of its strength 

 at the time the test began. The use of the 25-lb. dumb-bell grad- 

 ually reduced this strength from 50 to 25 lbs. The test was there- 



^ It is on this principle that the new ergograph, before referred to, is con- 

 structed. 



