598 



JOHN R MURLUST 



of Meeh or of Lissauer by which the % power of the weight is multiplied 

 equalizes the proportions between surfaces and weights. This fact gives 

 a slightly different posture to the argument. A few illustrations will 

 make this clear. Suppose, for example, we have two infants weighing 7 

 and 8 kilograms respectively. Expressing their weights in kilograms and 

 their surfaces in sq M. by the Meek and Lissauer formulas, we have the 

 proportions shown in the following table. 



TABLE 16 

 RELATION OF BODY WEIGHTS AND SURFACES TO EACH OTHER 



The ratio of weights is .88 : 1 and of surfaces .91 : 1. ]&ow it is ob- 

 vious that if the metabolism of these two children is proportional to their 

 weights it must of necessity also be nearly proportional to surface. With 

 two youths weighing 40 and 41 kilos the surfaces bear to each other ex- 

 actly the same ratio as the weights, whether the Meeh or Lissauer formula 

 be employed. Eoth, therefore, will be equally good measures of metabolism 

 for the two individuals. 



Contrast with this the relationship between individuals weighing 4 and 

 40 kilograms, or still better, an infant at birth weighing 3*/> kilograms and 

 a man weighing 70 kilograms. In the latter the weights are to each other 

 as .05 to 1, and the surfaces as .135 to 1. In other words, the weight of the 

 larger individual is twenty times that of the smaller, while the surface is 

 a little over seven times that of the smaller. In this case weight 

 and surface cannot possibly be of equal value as measures of the metab- 

 olism. One is nearly three times as good or as bad as the other. As a 

 matter of fact it is now well known that surface is about two and one-half 

 times as good a measure as weight between two such individuals. 



Benedict and his colleagues have fallen into the error of supposing that 

 physiologists have believed the basal metabolism to be absolutely propor- 

 tional to surface regardless of circumstances. This is quite incorrect. 

 Rubner for the German literature and Richet for the French are respon- 



