Basal Metabolism of Premature Infants. 433 



Rubner formula), or 40 calories per sq. meter per hour. This 

 metabolism includes the normal muscular activity (crying) of the 

 infant for the day. Bailey and Murlin found the basal as an 

 average of 13 separate determinations on six infants born at term, 

 within the age of 12 days, to be 23.7 calories per sq. meter per 

 hour (Meeh-Rubner formula), or 27.3 calories for the Lissauer 

 formula. Benedict and Talbot 1 found 25.5 calories per sq. meter 

 (Lissauer) an hour as the average for 94 newborn infants at an 

 average of two days. 



The present report includes results on ten newborn infants all 

 of whom were under 5 lbs. 5 oz. at birth. Two (twins) were 

 born at term, three at 8}4 months, one at 7^ months and three, 

 two of whom were twins, at 7 months. The average heat pro- 

 duction (basal) was 24.63 calories per sq. meter (Lissauer) per 

 hour. The table epitomizes the results. Four of the ten, one a 

 Cesarean, one a case of sclerema monatorum and two from 

 prematurity only subsequently died. All the others at last 

 reports were growing. 



The respiratory quotients found range from 0.70 to 0.93 ac- 

 cording to state of nutrition, i.e., time from feeding. 



Of the four who died the basal metabolism of all except the 

 Caesarean case, at the time of observation were distinctly below 

 the average for infants born at term (see above). The average 

 of the remaining six was 25.8 calories per sq. meter per hour 

 (Lissauer) . 



Since basal metabolism is the best single measure of vitality 

 yet found it is probable that this test will prove to be an important 

 means of prognosis in prematurity. 



1 Benedict and Talbot, Carnegie Inst, of Wash. Publ. No. 233, 1915. 



