EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN 



179 



Voit ('66) observed an apparent loss of 3.2 per cent in the brain and spinal 

 cord (combined) of a cat on total inanition with loss of 33 per cent in body 

 weight. Manassein ('68, '69) in 47 adult rabbits with average loss of about 

 39 per cent in body weight found an apparent gain of 3 per cent in the weight 

 of the brain. In 2 cats there was an apparent loss of 10 per cent in brain 

 weight, while in 2 crows the brain weight remained unchanged (with loss of 36 

 per cent in body weight). 



Bourgeois ('70) gave no weights, but stated that the brain often appears 

 entirely normal in starved animals (guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs), contrast- 

 ing strongly with the loss of weight in other organs. 



In the guinea pig, Lazareff ('95) found in guinea pigs (10 in each group) on 

 total inanition with losses in body weight of 10, 20, 30, and 36 per cent corre- 

 sponding apparent losses in brain weight averaging 1.5 1, 3.02, 5.54 and 6.05 

 per cent, respectively. Sedlmair ('99) obtained an apparent gain in the brain 

 weight in 2 starved cats, but the difference in the initial weights in comparison 

 with the control makes conclusions uncertain. 



Donaldson ('n) stated that the relative weight of the central nervous 

 system in the leopard frog {Rana pipiens) remains nearly constant during 

 hibernation. Ott ('24) found that in this species the weight of the brain remains 

 nearly constant during hibernation and subsequent inanition, although in 

 the male during the later stages of inanition (with body loss of 50-60 per cent) 

 there is an apparent loss of 15-22 per cent in brain weight (Table 6). The per- 

 centage of dry substance remains nearly constant. 



Jackson ('15) in adult albino rats on water only (acute inanition series), 

 with loss of about 33 per cent in body weight, noted an apparent loss of 5.1 per 

 cent in brain weight. In the chronic inanition series (underfeeding), with 

 loss of about 36 per cent in body weight, there is an apparent loss of 6.6 per 

 cent in the brain weight. 



Brain Weight in Young Animals. — In 8 rabbits 3 months and 20 days old, 

 with average loss of about 33 P er cent m body weight from starvation, Manassein 

 ('69) noted that there was an apparent gain of about 3 per cent in the brain 

 weight, as in adults. In 3 rabbits only 23-25 days old, with loss of 35 per 

 cent in body weight, there was an apparent increase of 7 per cent in brain 

 weight, indicating a persistent growth tendency (unrecognized as such by 

 Manassein, however). 



Von Bechterew ('95) found apparently a slight loss, or at least a greatly 

 retarded growth, in the brain weight of newborn kittens and puppies on water 

 only. Schukow ('95) confirmed and extended these results on puppies and 

 chicks, concluding that there is not an actual decrease in the brain weight 

 during inanition, but merely a retardation in growth. 



Hatai ('08) stunted 5 litters of albino rats by moderate underfeeding begin- 

 ning at 30 days of age, so that at 170 days they averaged only 91.5 g. in 

 body weight (controls reaching 146.5 g). In the test rats the brain 

 weight appears normal for corresponding body weight. Donaldson ('n), in 

 a series of 22 litters of albino rats held at nearly constant body weight by more 

 severe underfeeding from 30-51 days of age, found the average brain weight 



