Abstract
BENEDICT and Talbot' work on the “Metabolism and Growth from Birth to Puberty” of children of both sexes aged from one week up to fifteen years is a continuation of that on new-born infants published six years ago. The children were all physiologically normal, and some of the data are from the same children at different ages. Measurements of the weight, height, pulse-rate, and body-temperature are recorded, as well as the basal metabolism figures—i.e. the heat evolved in twenty-four hours in the subject at quiet repose and in the post-absorptive condition. These conditions were not easy to attain in the case of infants; there was not usually quiet repose unless some food was in the alimentary tract, but occasionally measurements were made as long as nine hours after a meal. The data are thus rather above the real basal figures than below. The basal metabolism is referred to age, weight, height, and body surface in a series of curves. The body surface was calculated by the Du Bois formula from actual measurements. Weight and height run parallel with age, and the basal metabolism increased from approximately 150 to noo Calories. In comparison with body surface the basal metabolism rose rapidly during the first year; after this age there was a continual decrease. There was no marked difference between the sexes, but after reaching the weight of 11 kilograms boys had a slightly higher metabolism than girls. All the data for basal metabolism are lower than those recorded by previous investigators. The publication is a valuable contribution to physiological literature.
Metabolism and Growth from Birth to Puberty.
F. G.
Benedict
F. B.
Talbot
By. (Publication No. 302.) Pp. vi+213. (Washington: The Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1921.)
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Metabolism and Growth from Birth to Puberty . Nature 107, 647 (1921). https://doi.org/10.1038/107647b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/107647b0