Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-10-26
GOVERNMENTTRY|NG
TO RELIEVE FAT man
Studying Effect of Weather on Him
= Humidity Is His Greatest
Enemy-Compared With Steam
Engine.


its constant endeavor to make ev-
erybody happy and prosperous, the
United States government has taken
up the question of the influence or
the weather on human beings, es-
pecially on fat men. An abundance
of sub-cutaneous fat, 1t has been dis
covered by the meteorological sharps
in the Department of Agriculture,
lower metabolism, by presenting a
relatively less body surface for heat
dissipation, and by protecting
against ation-conduction and
evaporation. At higher tempera-
lures, with humid air, heat loss is
so much interfered with in fat per-
sons as to cause them to suffer
more distress under these circum-
stances than slender subjects.
Heat dissipation, the government
experts admit, is far less responsible
than the ordinary form of alcoholic
dissipation. The lesson to be learn
ed from this most erudite inquiry on
the part of Uncle Sam is also quite
clear, vilz., fat men should eimgrate
to the Polar regions, where there is
scarcely any humidity, much less
heat. Some occupation up there In
the frozen fields of the north Will
doubtless be indicated In future
studies by the government experts.
might clear away the ice at the
Pole and organize baseball club.
Water polo, too. would be fine.
The atmospheric conditions that
especially affect the escape of heat
from the body. says DR.. John Ben.
jamin Nichols, are temperature, hui
mdit yanwind. When the tempera-
ture of the air and the body are the
same the body cannot radiate heat,
and the only relief is by evaporation
air currents. The oxidation OF
the body increases as the tempera-
ture of the air increases, and prac-
tically stops at 33 degrees cent?
grade. Each germ of perspiration
takes away $500 calory OF heat
from the body.
The steam engine puts Is per
cent of fuel energy into engine pow
er. The human body may do a lit
tie better, its average of body ener-
gy derived from food energy vary
ing from ID to 20 per cent.
Most of the heat or energy of the
average resting man is given of In
the shape of radiation, 1877 per
cent. Practically all of the rest,
~ l-2 per cent, is dissipated in per-
spiration. In the case of the work
ingman. "A per cent OF the heat or
energy he gives off is by radiation
and conduction, Is per cent is by
perspiration and 10 per cent and a
fraction goes into external muscu.
lar work. Unless the atmospheric
conditions are such that man can
give OFF his surplus OF heat and en-
ergy he cannot work or even move,
and the accumulation of the heat
and energy would soon kill him.
The danger and discomfort of hui
Nudity lie in the fact that they tend
to stop perspiration.
When the air is completely sat
urated with moisture a man can
not perspire at all. Winds and even
lmperceptible air currents greatly
increase the ability of the body to
give OFF heat. A combination OF
heat and humidity causes sunstroke
Though DR.. Nichols does not sug.
gest it, ballooning is considered by
the government sharps as an idea
way to cool off fat man. II he has
not the price. he can go up and sal
around under somebody else's ga,
bag. Sitting on the COW catcher Of
a locomotive is most excellent
mode OF reducing the body tempera
ture below the danger point, provid
ed the locomotive is in rapid mo
ton. Automobiling, too, is not t.
be sneezed at, despite the drought
caused by the machines swift pro
gress. The aeroplane course O
treatment is only for seasoned ex
perts.