Stool patterns of healthy adult males

Abstract

: The average weight of stools of 115 individuals is 123.6 Gm., with a standard deviation of 40.2 and a standard error of 3.74.Forty-six per cent of the stools were of a firm consistency; 36 per cent semiformed; 15 per cent were soft to mushy, and 3 per cent were loose, watery or diarrhetic.The average hour interval between stools shows an average of one stool daily, but averages less than this (for example, one stool every 2 days) are of common occurrence.The average modal time of day of evacuation indicates, as might be suspected, that generally stools were postprandial. However, there is evidence of preprandial evacuation in some cases.An analysis of consistency in relation to weight of stools confirms the general assumption that as the passage of the stool is delayed, water is absorbed and the stools become lighter and firmer. The subjects tended to show distinctive individual patterns during their period of observation. Examples of variability within individuals and between individuals are shown. This study was partly supported by USPHS Grants FR-05423 and HE-09495. © The ASCRS 1967...