INTRODUCTION 



It is desirable at the outset to define some of the terms used throughout the 

 present work. 



Inanition is defined by the Standard Dictionary as the state of being void 

 or empty; specificially, in pathology, exhaustion from lack of nourishment, 

 whether by absence of food or disorder of the nutritive system (from Latin 

 inanis, empty). Accordingly the term inanition as used in the present work 

 indicates in a broad sense the lack of food or of any foodstuff (including water) 

 which is essential to the living organism. Malnutrition or dystrophy are often 

 used as synonymous with inanition in general, but are wider in scope, including 

 disturbances of nutrition from causes other than mere lack of nutriment. 

 Starvation, in the broad meaning of the term, is synonymous with inanition; but 

 is more frequently used to indicate the extreme stages of inanition, leading to 

 death. Famine denotes inanition or starvation on a large scale, especially in 

 the human species, with widespread scarcity of food, usually resulting from war, 

 drought, floods, insects, etc. Hunger and thirst indicate the sensations arising 

 from the lack of food or water, respectively; and to famish means to undergo 

 extreme hunger or thirst. 



Inanition as above defined includes many different conditions, which may 

 be classified in various ways. As to the character of the inanition, we may 

 distinguish (^4) total inanition, with absence or insufficiency of all nutriment; or 

 (B) partial inanition, with absence or insufficiency of merely one or more of the 

 essential elements of food. As synonymous with "total" inanition, the terms 

 "absolute," "general," or "quantitative" inanition are frequently used in the 

 literature. As synonymous with partial inanition, the terms "relative," "spe- 

 cial" or "qualitative" inanition are often employed. Some authors use the 

 term "complete" inanition as synonymous with "total," and "incomplete" 

 as synonymous with "partial;" but they are defined differently in the present 

 work, as noted below. 



As to the degree of either total or partial inanition, we may distinguish either 

 (i) complete inanition, with entire absence of all food (in total inanition) or of the 

 deficient elements (in partial inanition); or (2) incomplete inanition, with merely 

 an insufficient amount of all food, or of the deficient elements. The terms 

 "underfeeding," "subnutrition," or "caloric insufficiency" are frequently used 

 to indicate incomplete total inanition. 



As to the duration and severity of the inanition, we may distinguish (1) 

 acute inanition, which is severe and of shorter duration; and (2) chronic inanition, 

 which is milder and of longer duration. 



Inanition may also be classified according to the mode of occurrence which 

 results in the malnutrition of the cells of the living organism. Thus inanition 

 may arise from extrinsic causes, which in some way prevent the necessary nutri- 



