270 Basal Metabolism in Men 



her of days observation; or, (3) weighted with the square root o 

 the number of days observation. 



B. The minimum value of the daily averages, i.e. the constan 

 for the single day giving the lowest average, may be used. 



This method has for its justification a physiological consideratioi 

 By definition the basal metabolism is the catabolism in the at 

 sence of muscular activity and the stimulatory influence of re 

 cently ingested food. Since these are the most potent factors L 

 determining the superbasal metabolism of the individual, th 

 basal metabolism is, practically speaking, synonymous with th 

 minimum metabolism. It is possible, therefore, to consider tha 

 the absolute minimum for any individual should be taken as th 

 true basal value. If the mean of all the daily averages of meas 

 urements made upon an individual is used as a measure of th 

 basal metabolism a value somewhat higher than the absolut 

 minimum is obtained and we admit that the individual may fa 

 below his own basal value. Against this method is to b 

 urged the criticism that the lowest value may be really subbas* 

 because of errors of measurement. This criticism is in large pai 

 met by the concordance of the results for the two or more perioc 

 upon which the daily averages are almost invariably basec 

 These minimum values may, like the individual means, be (*. 

 used only once in the calculation of the statistical constant ft 

 the population; (5) may be weighted with the number of daj 

 observation; or (6) weighted with the square root of the numb* 

 of days observation. 



C. (7) The constants may be computed directly from the who 

 series of daily means available. 



The first group (1 to 3) may be conveniently designated as tl r 

 method of individual means, the second group as the method of i 

 dividual minima, and the third group as the method of daily mean 



Table VII gives the statistical constants for the daily (24 hour 

 heat production of the 136 men 18 for whom data (individual mean. 

 are given in the protocols of our former publication. 19 



18 The 103 women considered in our volume were not studied over 

 period sufficiently long to make it worth while to calculate weighted co 

 stants comparable with those for men. 



19 In the full revision of the data for the 863 individual periods a f&amp;lt; ] 

 minor inaccuracies, of no practical importance for the purposes of o 

 earlier volume, were found in trtie fundamental protocols. The unweight 

 constants have, therefore, been recalculated for the purposes of tl 

 paper. 



