186 



Scientific Proceedings (127) 



Abstracts of Communications 



Fourth meeting. 



Western New York Branch, Clifton Springs N. Y. f 

 December i6, 1922. 



89 (2049) 



Vital capacity determinations in persons with normal heart and 

 lungs above forty years of age. 



By D. C. WILSON, (by invitation). 



[From the Clifton Springs Sanitarium, Clifton Springs, N. Y.] 



The first vital capacity readings were taken by Hutchinson 

 in 1846 on 2,000 persons of all ages by means of a spirometer. 

 His subjects were not given a physical examination. He found 

 the vital capacity to vary with the height and weight. He also 

 stated that the vital capacity increased 1 cu. in. yearly up to the 

 age of 35 and after 35 it decreased 1 cu. in. yearly. Since his 

 time the body surface has been found to measure more closely 

 the vital capacity variations. However, all normal persons 

 studied have been babies, students or young adults. No normal 

 readings have been above forty when the surface area is used 

 as the standard for variation. 



The present study is an attempt by accurate physical exam- 

 ination, fluoroscopy of the chest and blood studies to secure 

 patients of all ages who have no cardiac or lung disease. Next 

 to obtain by three separate readings their true vital capacity. 

 Then to compare this by means of a Du Bois chart with the so- 

 called normal for their body surface area. Eighty-five such 

 cases are reported and the results given. 



Except for women overweight and between 45 and 55 years 

 of age, the surface area reading is within 500 c.c. of the reading 

 obtained unless there is some cardiac or lung disease. This rule 

 does not hold above the age of 70 when there is great individual 

 variation. There is no such regular decrease in vital capacity 

 after 35 as Hutchinson mentions. 



