140 INANITION AND MALNUTRITION 



(B) Effects of Partial Inanition 



The effects of partial inanition on the skeleton will include deficiencies of 

 protein (with pellagra), of salts (calcium, phosphorus and rickets), of vitamins 

 (A, B and C) and of water. The effects on skeletal growth were summarized 

 by Jackson ('21). 



Protein Deficiency. — As already mentioned in Chapter V, Osborne and 

 Mendel ('11, etc.) found that on various incomplete protein diets young albino 

 rats remain unchanged in size for long periods, after which they are capable 

 of complete recovery upon adequate refeeding. In both respects these results 

 indicate that the skeleton reacts differently in protein deficiency in comparison 

 with general underfeeding. Schulz ('12) found no increase of length in puppies 

 fed farinaceous gruels (mixed deficiency), with full recovery upon later refeed- 

 ing, excepting the very young puppies, which remained permanently stunted. 

 Briining ('14, '14a) noted no persistent skeletal growth in young rats on one- 

 sided carbohydrate diet with stationary body weight. Mendel and Judson 

 ('16), however, found persistent growth of the skeleton in mice on diets with 

 protein or salt deficiency, as well as in simple underfeeding. 



Evvard, Cox and Guernsey ('14) noted defective bone development in the 

 offspring of pregnant swine fed on maize (deficient in both protein and calcium). 

 Osteoporosis and osteomalacia have often been observed in cases of human 

 malnutrition, involving deficiency in protein as well as in calcium and phos- 

 phorus (Alwens '19). On milled rice diet (deficient in protein, salts and 

 vitamins), fragility of the bones and atrophy of the bone marrow were found 

 in animals by McCarrison ('21) and others. Regenerative activity in the 

 bone marrow of dogs on rice diet was noted by Brucco ('20). 



While the chemical data are too numerous to be mentioned here, it may be 

 noted that Klose ('13), in an infant with alimentary edema (mixed deficiency), 

 found that the skeleton shows a marked increase in water content, with decrease 

 in fat, protein and ash. Similar data are given by Aron ('10, 'n, '13, '13a) 

 for underfed puppies. 



According to Findlay and Mackenzie ('22), dietary deficiency of protein 

 in rats causes patchy hemorrhagic areas in the bone marrow of the femur. 



In pellagra (assumed to be due chiefly to protein deficiency), fragilitas 

 ossium was noted frequently, especially in the ribs, by Fraenkel ('69-' 70), 

 Lombroso ('92), Tuczek ('93), Marie (08, '10), Raubitschek ('15) and Harris 

 ('19). Roberts ('12) presented X-ray figures showing rarefaction of the spon- 

 giosa and cortical layer in the bones of the hands. 



In rats on lipoid -free ration with retarded growth of body, Hatai ('15) found 

 the weight and length of the long bones normal for the body length, but the 

 tail length slightly above normal. 



Salt Deficiency. — In human experiments with complete dietary deficiency 

 of inorganic salts, Munk ('93) concluded from urinary analysis that there is 

 a loss of calcium phosphate from the skeleton (cf. Forster '76; Wellman '08; 

 Lusk '17). Lotsch ('12) described in cattle on salt-poor diet a skeletal disorder 

 resembling human rickets and osteomalacia. Forbes ('19) has studied the 



