Basal metabolism as determined by the respiratory exchange

Abstract

Recent work upon mental disorders has shown that there are important changes in the endocrine organs as well as in the central and sympathetic nervous system. Changes have been especially studied in the sex glands and in the thyroid; and it seemed evident that the determination of the basal metabolic rate of mental hospital patients might do much to add to our knowledge of disorders of the working of these glands. The present research was undertaken under the direction of the late Sir Frederick Mott, who was Honorary Director to the Joint Board of Research for Mental Diseases, City and University of Birmingham. From the beginning it was evident that the usual Douglas bag or spirometer methods, involving mouth and nose pieces or a mask, were quite unsuitable for the work in hand, it being absolutely necessary that the disturbing factors of fear, anxiety and excitement should be eliminated. A chamber was, therefore, constructed similar to one which Prof. J. S. Haldane uses for various experimental purposes, in which the patient could sit, lie or sleep without disturbance for a period of two hours, the metabolism being measured by determining the changes in the air of the chamber at the end of this period. As, however, these changes are small, a special modification of the Haldane air analysis apparatus was required.