54(1 



METABOLISM 



Surfact in squart cm. 



(1) 



- 



(5) 



10,750 

 7,662 

 5,286 



3,724 



.> (.)■■ 



Ih ni production in calorit s 



pi r square mt t< r of sur- 

 face i>i r ilny 

 io. n ,r, 



1097 

 1183 

 1153 

 1212 



(Rubner) 



Such results have prompted observers to ('(include that the determining 

 factor in the calorie output of warm-blooded animals is the relative sur- 

 face of the animal. This is greater the smaller the animal, with the con- 

 sequence that heat is more rapidly lost to the surrounding air from the 

 surface, thus requiring more active combustion. Until quite recently it has 

 been generally believed that such a relationship between body surface and 

 heat production did actually exist, but, thanks to the work of F. G. Bene- 

 dict 7 and E. F. and 1). Du Bois 6 , it is now known that the calculations w r ere 



20 



200 



30 



40 



50 



60 



70 



80 



90 



100 



o-> 



ct:. 



190 



180 



70 

 i — 



SI60 

 5150 



CD 



G'30 

 120 

 110 

 100 



110 

 200 



190 

 180 

 170 

 160 

 150 

 140 

 130 

 120 

 110 



20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 



WEIGHT-KILOGRAMS 



100 

 10 



Fig. 175. — Chart for determining surface area of man in square meters from weight in kilo- 

 grams (Wt.) ancl height in centimeters (Ilt.i according to the formula: Area (Sq. Cm.) = Wt. 

 0.425 XHt. 0.725 X71.84. (From Dubois and Dubois, Arch. Int. Med., 1917, vol. 17.) 



based upon incorrect computations of the body surface. In the older re- 

 searches the calculation was made by usiii^- a formula known as Meeh's, in 

 which weight was multiplied by a certain factor (viz., 12.312 x ^weight). 

 Du I'.ois, however, has shown that an average error of 16 per cent is in- 

 curred in using this formula. For accurate measurement the body was 

 covered with thin underwear, which was then impregnated with melted 

 paraffin and reinforced with paper strips to prevent it from changing in 

 area when removed. r J 'his model of the surface was afterwards cut up 

 into flat pieces and photographed on paper of uniform thickness, the pat- 



