title: Metabolism: The Physiological Power-Generating Process: A History of Methods to Test Human Beings' \"Vital Capacity\" [Retrospectroscope].
abstract: A previous "Retrospectroscope" note, published early in 2014, dealt with spirometry: it described many apparatuses used to measure the volume of inhaled and exhaled air that results from breathing [1]. Such machines, when adequately modified, are also able to measure the rate at which work is produced (specifically by an animal or a human being). Metabolism in that sense is the term used by physiologists and physicians, a word that in Greek, metabolismos, means "change" or "overthrow," in the sense of breaking down material, as in burning some stuff.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Max E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Valentinuzzi
mesh_terms: D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008660:Metabolism; D013147:Spirometry / Q000266:history / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014797:Vital Capacity