Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-06
LOST TWO POUNDS.
Man Energies from Ca|orimeter After
Being Confined for Twelve Days.
Experiment Been Most Successful One
Effects Of Trial Known Well.


Smith, who entered the respiration
calorimeter apparatus, Monday, March
%, at a. NJ. for an experiment, came
out at =. NJ. Saturday, thus making
stay of II days and hours.
This is the longest continuous ex-
pertinent of the kind that has ever
been made.
Mr.. Smith reports himself as feeling
entirely well and none the W""se III
any way for the experience He has
been very efficient and successful in
the performance of the tasks assigned
him, which included severe mental
work, severe muscular work and the
making of frequent observations of
temperature and microscopic condi-
tons of the atmosphere within the APP
paratus The experiment was divided
into FIVE periods. A preliminary period
of nearly two days of rest. then three
days of hard mental work in calculat-
ing results of previous experiment,
studying of German treatises on
physics and the like. Then
came three days of rest. This was fol-
lowed by Il period of three days of in
tense muscular exercise in lifting
weights, The last period, like the first,
was one of rest
The food and drink the inhaled and
axhaled air and all of the products
given off from the body were measured
and weighed The energy received b.
The body in the form of food and drink
ana that given off in the excretory
products and in the heat radiated from
the body were also measured.
\ large amount of work remains to
be done in completing and calculating
the results of the experiment. so that
the final outcome will hardly be ready
Tor publication for some weeks or
months. When published. they wifi
iuhtless throw very valuable light
upon the quantities of food materials
lsed by the body when at rest and
when the person is engaged in intel
lectuai and muscular work and also
upon the relations OF energy to the
bodily functions
During the experiment he lost two
pounds.
An idea of the labor involved may
De gained from the fact that 10 differ
mt persons were engaged in the eX-
periments during the whole II days,
relays of observers being necessary in
order to carry on the observations dur
ing the day and night
From three to six persons We're in
the room where the calorimeter APP
)aratus was located during the whole
line.
The experiment was not only longer,
nut much more nainstaking and labor
Gus than any other of the kind ever
Undertaken in this country or In
Europe.
Mr.. Smith this morning, told DR.
Benedict. who has had the immediate
charge of these experiments day and
light with but few hours sleep. if the
experiment. was not satisfactory he was
willing to stay in another week. Dr.
Benedict replied that it had been even
more successful than the previous eX-
oeriments in many ways.
This will close the experiments for
his year, as the outside room must be
Kept at temperature three degrees
above the interior of the calorimeter
AIr. Smith is a Nermonter. a gradu-
tie of Dartmouth, and assistant in the
lectrica, laboratory Of Wesleyan uni
'ersi.y, from which he received the
lesree of a. NJ, last year.
During his confinement he has woke
'ach day at 6, breakfasted at 80. dined
1t 1890, supped at so and retired at
.0.3o
One day he filed 127 grains of iron
ilings, on another he raised and low
red l2i2 pound weight by means of
cord. and at the rate he worked ii
&as equal to - pounds I'D and six
Town. This he drew up 1000 times in
he forenoon and 1880 in the afternoon
He worked off more than quart of
>erspiration, ard twice as much car
poniC acid as on the rest" days
Sunday morning his bed broke down
Mice. but With Yankee ingenuity he
nended it himself.
He has read adam Bcdc." the Bon
ME Brier Bush" and the daily papers.
md has kept a very interesting joO nal
IN which all visitors have left their
names. Among these are that of Post
master General Wilson. who lecturcd
before the Citizenship Club March Is
DR.. Benedict, a Bostonian, was grad
latcd from Harvard in 1898 received an
\. NJ, in "a. Phi. D.. from Germany in
%. and has shown great skill and care
tulnesS in these long and trying expert
ncnts. The whole force of experiment.
erS VIII take a vacation preparatory to
working up the final results