New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-07-12
SCIENCE Will AID
FOOD SELECTIONS
Determines Just What and How
Much to Eat

Washington, July l. P1sim-
utilization of methods of measuring
the release of heat energy in the
vital processes and activities of the
hody has placed in the hands OF
science a new instrument for the
benefit of mankind.
Energy requirements of both men
and animals for various purposes
ran be ascertained, together with
the nutritive values of different
foods and the effects of normal or
unusual conditions and situations.
After devoting many years to the
atudv of the intricate problems IN
yo,ved. DR.. Francis G. Benedict, d.
rector of the nutrition laboratory OF
the Carnegie Institution of Washing
ton. is convinced that every healthy
individual has a fixed basal meta
ho)ism. or heat production when IN
complete repose.
When this basal metabolism is
altered in marked degree. he has
learned, the cause is likely to be
found In some disease or profound
change in general makeup. which
NAV be either beneficial or detrl-
mental. At any rate. he holds'
measurement of basal metabollsm
affords an excellent index of the
level of an individuals vital activity.
Many facts concerning metabollsm
remain only partially understood.
but considerable progress has been
made in recent years. Since all NE
processes and vital activities depend
on the varying rates of combustion
NJ food when it is united with oNy-
gen in the cells. the process known
as metabolism, the efforts of sclen-
fists working in this field have been
directed toward the measurement OF
the heat output of the body.
Roughly. that output is approx
ratelv equivalent to the amount ra-
dated by a 100-Watt lamp, but IL
undereoes numerous delicate fluc-
tuations which, correctly interpreted
can give the answers to many ques-
tons. Until recently, however, the
making of measurements has heh
more or les mpracticable because OF
the unwieldv and expensive nature
of the apparatus required.
Called a "calorimeter," the appa-
ra.us first consisted of a chamber
constructed of non-conducting ma
terials in which a person could re-
main for long periods without dis
comfort. Water circulating through
yyin
heat given out by the body, and this
could be measured by computing the
differences in temperature of tbs
water as it entered and left the
chamber. taking into consideration
the volume of it's flow.
improvements made possible tho
measurement also of the amount OF
oxygen consumed and of carbon
dioxide eliminated by the subject
After sufficient number of expert.
ments had been conducted with this
apparatus. the investigators were
able to show that the liberation OF
heat energy, production of carbon
dioxide and consumption of oxyger
were closely correlated in such
Ce1lIlltc TdllDS lndt, given oHe, llle
others could be determined by
simple calculation.
With this information it has be
come possible to measure metabol'
ism merely by ascertaining oXyger
consumption with a relatively simple
and inexpensive respiration apparat
us which, instead of requiring sew.
eral technicians for its operation
can be handled by one. By measur
ing the oxygen consumed in thu
performance of a given piece o
work and substracting from it thu
amount needed to maintain the vita
processes in repose, that required
for the task alone can be computed
Needlework done by Mary Queer
Of Scots. Queen Elizabeth and Mar