388 



THE SCIENTIFIC MONTHLY 



For several years the Nutrition Laboratory has been en 

 gaged in the measurement of basal metabolism in normal 

 human individuals of both sexes and of widely different ages. 

 These have been made with all the modern refinements of 

 method and manipulation. The subjects were in presumably 

 good health. All those with febrile temperature were rejected. 

 All were in the post-absorptive condition. Perfect muscular 

 repose during the short periods required for indirect calor- 

 imetry was assured by instruments providing an automatic 

 record of all movements, even those imperceptible to trained 

 observers. 



FIG. 1. FREQUENCIES OF MEN AND WOMEN PRODUCING VARIOUS NUMBERS OF CALOXIM 



PER TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. 



In carrying out a biometric analysis of the measurements 

 which have been made on 136 men, 103 women, and 94 new 

 born infants, we have proceeded on the conviction that the 

 widest possible usefulness of laboratory investigations of nor 

 mal human metabolism will result from basing measurements 

 upon those in presumably good health but otherwise typical of 

 human beings in general. It is only when the subjects used 

 for experimentation are representative of the population at 

 large in type, variability and correlation that the results of lab 

 oratory research upon limited series may be safely generalized 

 for rationing or for other practical social applications. An 

 explanation of the statistical tests which have been applied to 

 determine the suitability of the series used in the present inves 

 tigation would lead us into too great detail for this discussion. 



The average basal metabolism per twenty-four hours is as 

 follows : 



