Fisher — The Effect of Diet on Endurance. lY 



ance were employed, and one of mental endurance. The seven phys- 

 ical tests were : 



(1) Rising on the toes as many times as possible. 



(2) Deep knee-bending,- or squatting as far as possible and rising to 



the standing posture, repeating as often as possible. 



(3) While lying on the back, raising the legs fi'om the floor to a 



vertical position and lowering them again, repeating to the 

 point of physical exhaustion. 



(4) Raising a 5-lb. dumb-bell (with the triceps) in each hand from 



the shoulder up to the highest point above the head, repeating 

 to the point of physical exhaustion. 



(5) Holding the arms from the sides horizontally for as long a time 



as possible. 



(0) Raising a dumb-bell (with the biceps) in one hand from a position 

 in which the arm hangs down, up to the shoulder and lower- 

 ing it again, repeating the motion to the point of physical 

 exhaustion. This test was taken with four successive dumb- 

 bells of decreasing weight, viz., 50, 25, 10 and 5 lbs. respectively. 



(T) Running on the gymnasium track at a speed to suit the subject, 

 to as great a distance as possible. 



The mental test consisted of adding specified columns of figures 

 as rapidly as possible, the object being to find out whether the 

 rapidity of performing such work tended to improve during the 

 experiment. 



From the Avisdom born of experience it may be stated that the 

 •phj^sical tests were too numerous and too severe. But after they 



cles are placed in an awkward and unnatural position in which " no purchase " 

 is felt ; (3) because experience has shown that subjects waste their effort by 

 expending it not only while raising but while lowering the weight, and that this 

 waste during the period of relaxation varies greatly with different subjects ; (4) 

 because a fixed weight is used instead of a weight proportionate to the different 

 strengths of the various subjects. One might as well attempt to test the walk- 

 ing powers of a woman weighing 100 lbs., as compared with those of a man weigh- 

 ing 200 lbs., by compelling the woman to carry a 100-lb. weight so that she 

 might walk with the same weight as the man. Some of these objections have 

 been met in special instruments, such as that of Prof. W. S. Hall of Northwe.st- 

 ern University. 



After the experiment was half over, and too late to make use of it, the writer 

 devised an ergograph which, it is believed, meets all of the above objections. 

 He was led to do so by the fact that the tests employed were so frightfully 

 exhausting to the men. A description of the new ergograph will be published 

 later. It is to be employed in further tests. 



Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. XIII. 2 Mat, 1907. 



