PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS 
149 
Carbon-dioxide Content of the Alveolar Air after Muscular Work. 
A possible explanation for the low respiratory quotients usually found in 
the rest periods immediately following the muscular work might be that they 
were due to a storage of carbon dioxide in the body instead of to a change in 
the character of the katabolism. Thus, if the residual carbon dioxide in the 
body were larger at the end than at the beginning of the period, the amount 
of the carbon dioxide expired would not indicate the amount produced, so 
that the respiratory quotient would not be a true index of the nature of the 
material burned in the body. It is possible that during work organic acids 
(especially lactic acid) in the blood might replace in part the carbon dioxide 
as a factor stimulating the respiratory center; this would cause a smaller 
carbon-dioxide content of the arterial blood. After cessation of work, such 
acids would doubtless soon disappear so that the carbon-dioxide content 
of the blood would gradually return to a normal value. If there were a larger 
residual amount of carbon dioxide in the body at one time than at another, 
Table 131. — Determinations made on alveolar air with subject M. A. M. (without food) . 
Date. 
Time. 
Condition. 
Respira- 
tory 
quotient. 
Carbon dioxide. 
P. ct. Tension. 
1912. 
Jan. 18i. 
A 
B 
C 
Jan. 19 » 
Feb. 16 » 
s^so- 
8 54 
9 32 
10 14 a.m. 
a.m. to 8^ 45" 
9 09 
9 40 
10 10 
10 25 
10 26 
a.m. 
a.m. 
a.m. 
a.m., 
a.m., 
a.m. 
a.m. 
a.m., 
10 46 
11 10 
11 37 
8 29 
8 55 
9 28 
10 05 
10 44 
11 18 
11 43 
12 07 
12 36 
8 40 
9 02 
9 25 
a.m. 
a.m. 
a.m. 
a.m. 
a.m. 
a.m. 
a.m. 
a.m. 
a.m. 
a.m. 
p.m. 
p.m. 
a.m. 
a.m. 
a.m. 
10 45 
11 01 
11 05 
11 25 
11 30 
11 54 
11 57 
8 44 
8 50 
9 11 
9 20 
9 43 
9 50 
10 15 
10 02 a.m. 
10 45 a.m. 
11 15 a.m. 
11 40 
12 03 
a.m. 
p.m. 
10 
30 
10 
n 
11 
OS 
11 
M 
11 
40 
11 
n 
12 
00 
1.' 
22 
12 
.V) 
8 
57 
9 
17 
9 
40 
9 
42 
1!) 
12 
10 
20 
10 
42 
10 
.V,' 
11 
05 
11 
30 
11 
35 
11 
55 
12 
IS 
a.m 
a.m 
a.m. . . . 
a.m 
a.m 
a.m 
a.m 
a.m. . . . 
a.m.. . . 
a.m. . . . 
a.m. . . . 
a.m. . . . 
a.m. . . , 
a.m. . . . 
a.m. . . , 
a.m.. , 
a.m 
a.m 
a.m. . , 
a.m.. . , 
noon. . 
p.m. . . 
p.m. . . 
a.m. . . , 
a.m 
a.m. . . 
a.m. . , 
a.m. . . 
a.m. . . 
a.m. . 
a.m. . . 
a.m 
a.m. 
a.m. 
a.m. 
p.m. 
Lying 
Lying 
Working 
Working 
Working 
Immediately after 
work (sitting?) . . 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Sitting 
Working 
Working 
Working 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Working 
Working 
Working 
Working 
Immediately after 
work (sitting?) . . 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
Lying 
0.77 
.77 
73 
74 
S8 
72 
69 
7S 
75 
75 
76 
71 
65 
70 
73 
74 
91 
^-; 
-5 
90 
94 
70 
77 
77 
4.75 
4.58 
5.12 
5i29 
5;70 
5i73 
5.49 
5i74 
5i37 
4!87 
h'.ii 
Km 
5.ii 
5.74 
5.52 
5.73 
5.56 
5i78 
34.2 
32.9 
36.8 
38.0 
40.9 
iii 
38i7 
ibis 
37!8 
34.3 
mi 
41.5 
mi 
40.7 
39.1 
40.6 
394 
409 
1 The results for thia day are post-absorptive values as usual but following 2 days with carbohydrate-poor 
diet (100 grams carbohydrates per day). 
2 The results for this day are post-absorptive values as usual but following 3 days with carbohydrate-poor 
diet (100 grams carbohydrates per day). 
* The results for this day are post-absorptive values as usual but following 3 days with carbohydrate-rich 
diet (400 grams carbohydrates per day). 
