Studies in the heat-production associated with muscular work. (Preliminary communication: section A.—Methods; section B.—Results.)

Abstract

The calorimeter with which the included data have been obtained was built upon the plan described by Benedict, omitting, however, such parts as were essential rather to a study of the respiratory gases than to measurements of heat-production. The general principles of its construction are well known, exceedingly ingenious, were developed by Atwater and Benedict, and are briefly as follows: The body of the calorimeter is of sheet copper built upon an external wooden framework, on which again is built externally an outer zinc box enclosing, but nowhere in contact with, the calorimeter box proper. Between the two metal boxes, sets of thermocouples arranged in groups are utilised to discover any differences of temperature likely to lead to a radiation of heat from one box to the other across the intervening air space partially occupied by the wooden framework. In the walls of a still more external wooden shell are placed means by which heat may be added to or subtracted from the zinc box in a graduated fashion so as to annul any such observed differences in temperature. Thus the zinc box is kept in each of its several zones, each zone corresponding to a group of thermocouples, at the same temperature as the copper box, and the thermal insulation of the calorimeter is thus insured. The subject of the experiment enters the calorimeter by a window space left in the walls of this nest of boxes, and is then sealed in by glass and wax. The heat produced in his body, as well as the heat into which all his mechanical work is finally converted, raises the temperature (1) of an insulated radiator system through which a steady stream of water is maintained; (2) of the calorimeter box; (3) causes some evaporation of water from his respiratory passages and skin, and (4) tends to raise his own temperature. Each one of these four stores of heat is observed in suitable ways, and the summed account of their alterations provides a measure of the heat-production of, or total transformation of energy in, the subject.