A Novel Experiment.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 158, 24 May 1909, Page 4

A Novel Experiment.

A remarkable investigation will shortly be undertaken by Professor Mac Donald, of Sheffield University, for the purpose of ascertaining how much energy is expended by a man in working and what foods are the most sustaining. Professor Mac Donald has made a curious machine, something like a diving bell. The sides are of copper and glass, and on the outer walls arc many small white dials, with quivering indicator needles. The machine is simply a calorimeter or heat measurer. In it will be placed a man, and tha heat given off by the man at different times of the day will be accurately shown on the dials. The main questions which Professor Mac Donald has set himself to answer are:—"How much human energy, as represented by the heat given off from the body is expended upon daily tasks,either manual or mental?" and "What food products are the most economical and sustaining to manual and brain workers as judged by their heat-producing powers?" The room of the calorimeter is 8 feet long and 5 feet wide. In it are a bed, a chair, and a bicycle set in a sort of treadmill frame with a workrecorder attached. The victim will be seated in this cojiper chamber, for stated periods, to be studied as if he were an instect under a microscope. A telephone alone will connect him with the outside world. Food v.-ill be pas-

sed to him through an ingenious double trap-door. When ho has eaten he will work, cither riding the bicycle, engag-

ing in carpentry or sunit other skilled trade, or performing mental studies. All the time, dials, which observers will be able to reaci from the outside of the machine, and recorders will be following his actions and energies. The moisture that collects on the copper sides of the chamber will be weighed. The food will be weighed and its constituents carefully recorded. The instruments attached to the calorimeter arc so exact that minute variations of temperature will be shown. Professor MaclJonald evidently interprets very literally the poet's dictum that "the proper study of mankind is man."