A16 The Philippine Journal of Science 1920 
of impending death. This sudden rise in nitrogenous output 
is explained by some as having been produced by a sudden dis- 
integration of the body cells because of the improper nutritive 
conditions to which they are finally subjected.?, During the en- 
hanced nitrogenous katabolism during fasting, there is observed 
a loss of weight, as the body is then living on its own tissues. 
The usual loss of body weight per day is on the average 1 kilo- 
gram, more or less. 
My observations were made upon five individuals, one Amer- 
ican and four Filipinos. The American was over 30 years of 
age, and the four Filipinos were under 30 years. The period 
of longest observation was on the American, who fasted for 
several periods during one hundred eighty-seven days. In the 
intervals of fasting he was permitted a liberal diet. 
My observations on the four Filipinos covered a period of 
over three months. In all of them the form of fasting was of 
the mixed type. At the beginning there was a gradual diminu- 
tion of the number of calories of food taken during twenty-four 
hours. The American, who is a physician, had previously under- 
gone several experimental fasts in the United States, so he was 
more accustomed to the tests and was able to endure rather 
stricter partial fasting for a number of days with a limited 
amount of water during twenty-four hours. The four Filipinos 
were University students, who offered themselves as subjects 
forthe experiment. 
The system used in these experiments consisted of a general 
physical examination previous to the experiment, with record- 
ing of the weight in kilograms and also the blood pressure. 
After the commencement of the fast, physical examination 
was made daily, with careful record of the results. Examina- 
tion of the blood (hemoglobin estimation and cell count) was 
made during the progress of the experiment, including the blood 
pressure. The results that were obtained from my observations 
are the following: 
With the continuous loss of weight there were observed some 
distinct physical changes. There was a marked diminution of 
the panniculus adiposus or the subcutaneous tissue, especially in 
the face and abdomen. The normal relations of some viscera, 
both abdominal and thoracic, with the external structure was dis- 
turbed. These viscera are the lungs and heart in the thorax, 
and the liver, spleen, and intestines in the abdomen. 
* Hawk, in Modern Medicine, Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia 2 (1914) 606. 
Sy 
