The Accumulation, Interpretation, and Presentation of Data Pertaining to Metabolic Balances, Notably Those of Calcium, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen12

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Abstract
A description is given of the metabolic unit and of the mechanical, chemical, and dietetic methods employed in the accumulation of data pertaining to metabolic balances. The factors involved in the general plan of an expt., the control observation, the length of "metabolic periods," the selection of a diet, the detn. of its components by tables and by analysis, the fluid intake, the collection of specimens, and the prepn. of specimens for analysis are discussed, as well as some problems relating to the interpretation of such data, particularly to the detection of gross errors, and to the evaluation of the significance of observations. The theoretical considerations and the methods involved in computing certain derived data are presented, including "theoretical" balances of P, Ca, N, K and S, and "theoretical wt. curves." Suggestions are made concerning the presentation of such data by graphic methods.