A year ago I reported some observations of the gaseous metabolism in four cases of obesity and one of acromegaly.1 At present I wish to discuss the findings in these cases somewhat further, and at the same time to report observations on eight new cases.2
The object in view has been to determine whether any gross disturbances in the metabolism as shown by the basal gas exchange occur in obesity.
The method has been described in the previous paper and consists, briefly, in the determination of the gas exchange in the nüchtern subject, lying prone, in a moderately warm room, and the calculation of the heat production by indirect calorimetry from the oxygen absorption and the calorific value of oxygen for the respiratory quotient obtained.3
In judging of the normality of any given metabolism the body surface is unquestionably a better criterion than the