PHYSIOLOGY: BENEDICT AND TALBOT 601 
stance burned in the body, i.e., fat or carbohydrate. A critical study 
of these respiratory quotients shows that the new-born infant was not 
suppHed with a superfluous amount of body carbohydrate to burn dur- 
ing the period of insufficient breast secretion. Indeed, the predominance 
of fat combustion suggests the possible necessity of supplemental feeding 
of carbohydrates. 
Select periods of muscular repose were obtained in the majority of 
cases which supplied data for computing the basal metabolism or mini- 
mum heat-production. This minimum heat-production, computed on 
the 24-hour basis, ranged from 95 to 193 calories, but as the body -weight 
likewise varied, the values per kilogram of body-weight were also com- 
puted. These ranged from 32 to 52 calories per kilogram of body- 
weight per 24 hours. Even on the basis of per square meter of body- 
surface, supposedly the best basis for comparison, the values ranged 
from 459 to 732 calories per square meter of body surface per 24 hours. 
Of the numerous comparisons made none showed sufficient regu- 
larity even to suggest a physiological law, until the factors of age and 
length were considered. On the basis of age the figures showed that 
frequently the lowest as well as the highest values occurred during the 
first 24 hours of life and it was clear that there were profound disturb- 
ances of the heat-regulating mechanism during this period. After the 
first day considerable regularity appeared in the results. When length 
was also considered as a variant, all infants between 1| and 6 days of 
age, 48 in number, showed that the heat-production per square meter 
of body-surface per 24 hours per centimeter of length was remarkably 
constant. The values computed on this basis rarely varied more than 
=t= 6% from the average value of 12.65 calories, thus establishing a 
physiological constant for new-born infants. 
The increase in the metabolism due to severe muscular exercise, such 
as lusty crying, averaged 65% for all infants but actually exceeded 100% 
in 10 instances, with a maximum increase in one case of 211%. As an 
evidence of the possible increase above basal metabolism in a normal, 
healthy, new-born infant this is worthy of special note. 
The pulse-rate showed average values as follows for the first eight 
days: 112, 114, 116, 116, 116, 122, 119, and 126 beats per minute. A 
profound disturbance of the rectal temperature accompanied the bath 
following birth and this probably explains the great fluctuations in the 
heat values for the first day. Indeed, it is suggested that the bath 
be deferred for a day to permit the deficient heat-regulating mechanism 
a longer period of adjustment. 
The probable daily maintenance requirement of energy for a new- 
