The finding of men who should have all of these qualifications required careful consideration of various possibilities. After a period of several months, it was finally decided that a group of students could best be chosen from the International Young Men's Christian Association College in Springfield, Massachusetts. The desirability of such a selection is shown by the following facts:

In the first place, the students in this college are all professing Christians, their admission to the institution being dependent upon high moral character combined with intellectual and physical fitness. The men would thus be clean-lived and with good histories as to excesses of all kinds. The question of tobacco and alcohol would also be eliminated and a good physical condition be assured. The ethical standards are high and the honor system obtains in every phase of the college life.

Still another reason for selecting students from this college is the unusual interest in physiological problems throughout the college body. This is due in large part to the active interest in and contributions to physiology made by Professors J. H. McCurdy and Elmer Berry, whose personal cooperation and assistance in many details at Springfield were admittedly great assets in beginning an investigation of this kind. The contributions of both these gentlemen to physical education are well known.

It was a source of great regret to us that, owing to the pressing demands of the Young Men's Christian Association under the present war conditions in France, Professor McCurdy left America for that country before our investigation actually began. This was not only a great loss to us in carrying out the investigation, but necessitated a considerable addition to the already burdensome administrative work of Professor Berry, which prevented him from giving so large an amount of time to the research as he otherwise would have done.

Notwithstanding the fact that the distance from Boston (100 miles) required a large expenditure for transportation of apparatus, samples, and subjects, the wisdom of selecting men from this institution was repeatedly proved and never questioned during the research. At no point were we disappointed in the group of men selected, in their fidelity and interest, or in the general spirit of cooperation and friendliness exhibited by the teaching staff of the college, especially by President Laurence L. Doggett. Our obligations to Professor Elmer Berry are beyond adequate expression. The keen cooperation of Professor A. G. Johnson in a number of the measurements of physical achievement was likewise highly valued. A factor of most vital importance was the assistance of Chef Arthur M. Hall, of the Students' Dining Association, whose faithfulness and good nature under most trying and perplexing circumstances made possible a dietary control that we believe is rare in the annals of physiological experimenting.

Although the decision to undertake this investigation was made in the spring of 1917, it was of course impossible to begin the observations until the opening of the academic year in the fall. Throughout the summer much time was given to a further elaboration of the program of the research, to the construction and testing of apparatus, and to the preparation of material for transportation to Springfield. Considerable anxiety was felt as to the possibility of carrying out the research, owing to the constant reports during the summer of low registration and probably small attendance at the college on account of the drafts for military service and the demands for graduates and undergraduates for Y. M. C. A. work in the field. After a year's experience with these men, one can easily see why the demand should have been so great. As a matter of fact, it was not until the opening of the college year that we were confident that a sufficient number of students would be available from whom to select subjects for the research.

In a general address at the opening of the college, the plan for the investigation was outlined and volunteers were asked for from the student body. Sixty-three men (considerably more than half of those attending the meeting) offered their services. Detailed explanations were given to these men as to the time required and the specific demands which would be made upon them. When it is remembered that many of those volunteering relied upon outside employment for their support in college and many of them had previously obligated themselves for such employment, it was surprising to find that after this explanation of the requirements there still remained 34 men who were ready to join the "squad." It must be emphasized at this point that these men were, first, college students with all the obligations of college attendance, and second, volunteers for experiments of this kind. From the 34 men remaining a careful selection was made, chiefly on the advice of Professor Berry, of the 12 men to serve as "Squad A." Of these 12 men, 5 were taking the secretarial course and 7 the physical course.1

To illustrate the spirit obtaining in the college, the fact is of interest that before the final selection was made, many of the volunteers specially requested that they be allowed to serve. After the selection a number of the men were obviously disappointed, for they felt that it was an opportunity to be of real service in undergoing some privation for the sake of science and of supplying important information to the nation in a crisis. The 22 men remaining thus provided excellent material as a reserve for possible substitutes in Squad A and for the selection of subjects for the second squad (Squad B) and assured the carrying out of the original plan of research.