Abstract
Sanctorius 1 has an aphorism, No. XV in his Sect. IV on Sleep and Vigilance, which reads as follows: “If the night's rest be less than usual, there is a diminution in the exhalation of the concocted perspirable matter, but the perspiration of crudities is augmented.” On the first point I have seen no actual data. Benedict and Root 2 state that the insensible loss is less with quiet sleeping and more with restlessness. A hot uncomfortable night increases the weight loss per hour. These authors give a good review of the literature on the subject of insensible perspiration. The papers like the work of Sanctorius in 1614 have mostly been self-studies. Dr. F. G. Benedict has done more than anyone else or probably than all others combined to point out the importance of research in this field and to set the facts in array.
The data given herewith represent self-observation and cover 40 nights, nearly consecutive, beginning April 24th and ending June 24, 1928. So far as climatic conditions are concerned the data are representative for Stanford University, California. During this period the relative humidity of outdoor air at night ranged from 90 to 100% while in the middle of the day it was usually around 30%. The mean noon day temperature for April, May and June in this locality was 63°, 68° and 73° F. respectively. The night temperature in May for example is close to 53°, dropping about one degree for every 2 hours as follows:
The sleeping was indoors with windows wide open The nude weights were taken on platform scales (“silk scales”) such as are recommended by Benedict. Our scales were provided with a pillar 36 inches high which made self weighing quite convenient and accurate.
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