The Baldin sum rule for the nucleon has been recalculated at the light of the most recent photoabsorption cross section measurements. The proton value $(\alpha +\beta {)}_p=13.69\mathrm{}\pm 0.14$ is smaller but consistent with the one usually quoted in literature. However, the value for the neutron $(\alpha +\beta {)}_n=14.40\mathrm{}\pm 0.66$ turns out to be three standard deviations away from the previously calculated one.

• Received 12 September 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.57.291