The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-19
STUDYING NUTRITION.
Improved "Respirntion CaIOrime-
ter" and How IL Is Operated.

Improved "Respirntion CaIOrimc-
ter" and How IL Is Operated.
Washington, Feb. 3.--About five years
ago public interest was excited in the
nutrition Investigations carried on as
"a cooperative enterprise by the United
States Department of Agriculture, the
Storrs Experiment Station and Wes
leyan University, at Middletown, Conn,
by the experiments on the nutrition of
men in the respiration calorimeter
The IMAM in the box" was over
whelmed with visitors curious to see
a man housed in an air tight copper
box for from four to twelve days. Each
year the experts in charge of the APP
paratus have made changes tending
to simplify its manipulation and in
crease it's accuracy. The original cop
per box is no more. For the past three
months a force of mechanicians and
electricians have been at work entirely
reconstructing this remarkable appar-
atus, and it is expected that the fin
ishing touches will he given in a few
days. 1t is believed that the new de-
vices were so delicate as to permit of
the measurement of the heat devel-
oped in so slight a motion as rising
from chair, but it is hoped that the
new apparatus will record the heat
given off in a sudden cough or sneeze
or change of position In bed.
The new devices include an unusually
accurate thermometer for recording
changes of body temperature, an i'm
proved cooling apparatus to remove
the heat radiated from the body and
q novel method of introducing food and
drink into the air tight chamber with
out admitting air. This latter device Is
on the principle OF the double doored
chamber used in tunnel construction.
The chamber between the doors is used
for the transitory storage of material,
only one door being open at a time.
The double insulated wooden walls
have been coated inside and outside
with asbestos paper to prevent any
possible danger from fire due to breaks
I'm the numerous electric circuits. The
chamber Is literally Enclosed in a web
or network of wires, each with its own
independent connection, and all lead
ing to a table outside where an OBJ
server sits continually day in and day
out. An especially elaborate and in
genious switch of a new type, controll-
ing ali the electric circuits, is now
completed, ready for installation. The
object is to regulate the temperature
OF the interior of the chamber and
measure the heat given off from the
body Of the occupant.
The system of plumbing is hardly
less intricate than that OF electric wir-
ing, for each wire has it's counterpart
in water pipe. The pipes are used
to cool the air spaces around the metal
box and the wires serve as a resist
ance to the electric currents and there
by heat the air correspondingly.
The box rests on lignum vitae cas-
tors in a track, and when rolled into
its casing, or she'd the double back -
put In place and the metal box is COM
pletely housed. A telephone system
permits conversation with the outside
world, and aside from what he hears
over the telephone, the subject Is dead
to the sound of voices when in the
chamber A large water meter meas
ures the amount OF water used to cool
the inside of the insulated chamber
and bring away the heat generated by
the body. Long Thermometers, grad
uated TO fftleths OF a degree record
the temperature OF the cold water as
II enters the heat absorbing system
and the warmed water as II comes our.
A new mechanical pump provides for
very constant ventilation. The large
double-Glass window offers a good OPP
portunity TO see the subject inside. and
IL Is seldom that his every motion f.
not watched either by some assistant
or by a visitor to the university iap-
oratOry.
During certain kinds % experiments
the subject must engage In hard mus
cular work. The small size OF the in
nermost chamber forbids even ordinary
gymnastics or calisthenics, ana the
work must be done on machine. The
new work machine consists Of "A sta
tiOnnry bicycle ~ arranged that its
rear tire h brought into contact with
pulley on a small electric dynamo.
the pulley being KfoOyed 70 ~ ihs
curve 81 the rubber tire The machine
81 Keared 90 50. and when riding ~
the fastest peue the armafure Of ihq
dynamo runs ~ ~ 900 revolutions per
minute. The dynamo 10 maFnetized
bE "a current from outside ana ne
amount ~ electricity generated BY fhs