8 
PHYSIOLOGY: F. G. BENEDICT Proc. N. A. S. 
more extensive data shows a different picture, it seems possible to use this 
curve for predicting the probable basal metabolism of boys within this 
age-period. Although at first sight it would appear as if the grouping of 
the points around the curve were closer for the boys weighing less than 10 
kg. than for those of greater weight, percentagewise, the deviations are 
greater at the lower weights. The curve has, therefore, been arbitrarily 
divided for consideration into two sections showing the values obtained 
with boys below and above 10 kg., respectively. 
TOTAL CALORIES REFERRED TO WEIGHT BOYS 
1400 
50^1 
1300 
1200 
1100 
1000 
900 
800 
700 
600 
500 
400 
300 
200 
100 
I I i I I \ I I I I I 1 1 I I I 
2kgs4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 
BASAL HEAT PRODUCTION OF BOYS PER 24 HOURS REFERRED TO BODY WEIGHT 
By comparing the actually measured heat output per 24 hours for these 
boys with the predicted heat output read from this curve for corresponding 
weights, we find that with 60 subjects below 10 kg., the prediction average is 
368 calories against an average of 364 calories from measured values. With 
68 subjects above 10 kg., the average predicted value is 911 calories as 
compared with 907 calories obtained by actual measurement. 
These pictures can be looked upon only as a proof of the legitimacy 
of the curve as sketched. But when individual cases are considered, we 
find that with boys under 10 kg. there is an average plus or minus devia- 
tion of predicted from actual of 30 calories or somewhat over 8%. With 
the 68 values above 10 kg. the predictions are considerably closer, since 
the deviations are plus or minus 54 calories on the average, or an average 
difference of 6.3%. It thus appears that from this curve alone one may 
