J. A. Harris and F. G. Benedict 



261 



sVe note that the coefficients for total calories range from 1.9 to 

 \A per cent with a general average of 3.97. Those for calories 

 er kilo of body weight range from 2.8 to 5.1 per cent with a 

 eneral average of 4.40, and those for calories per square meter 

 f body surface from 2.3 to 5.3 per cent with a general average 

 f 3.95. 



The suggestion will naturally arise that the variation in basal 

 letabolism in these longer periods is due merely to the uniform 

 ecline in metabolic activity characteristic of adult life. 



TABLE III. 



Statistical Constants for Basal Metabolism in Eleven Men. 



Evidence that this is not the case will be adduced in the follow- 

 g section in which it will be shown that for periods of not more 

 tan 10 or 15 days the magnitude of the variation in metabolism 

 : positively correlated with the duration of the period over 

 tiich the observations extended. We have, furthermore, applied 

 i correction for age 8 to the measurements of three of the indi- 

 duals with results as given in Table IV. The standard 

 Aviations and the coefficients of variation are practically the same 

 iter correction for age as for the original observations. The 

 isult shows clearly that age is not a primary factor underlying 

 fe variations. 



8 Calculations from unpublished data. 



