74 



INANITION AND MALNUTRITION 



Some of the data indicating the relative effects of inanition upon body weight 

 and length of life in young vertebrates may be mentioned briefly, for comparison 

 with the effects in adults. The effects upon the prenatal as well as the postnatal 

 stages must also be considered. 



Although the lesser resistance of the young was noted even by Hippocrates 

 and Galen, the first accurate, quantitative observations were made by Chossat 

 ('43). He found that on total inanition young turtle doves (initial weight 

 no g.) survived only 3 days with loss of 25 per cent in body weight; adolescent 

 (143 g.) survived 6 days with loss of 36 per cent; while adults (189 g.) survived 

 13 days with loss of 46 per cent. 



The more extensive experiments on chicks by Petroff ('86) are summarized in 

 the accompanying table. The exceptional endurance of the very young chicks 

 may be due to the presence of unabsorbed yolk material, and also to additional 

 protection from loss of heat under the wings of the mother. 



Effect of Total Inanition upon Chicks at Various Ages (Petroff '86) 



Among mammals, Falck ('75) observed that 3 puppies placed on total 

 inanition at 18 hours of age survived 2.8-3.4 days, with loss of 19.3-26.3 

 per cent in body weight; 2 puppies at 14-16 days of age survived 13-15 days 

 with loss of 46-48 per cent; young adult dog (1 year) survived 23 days with 

 loss of 48 per cent; an old adult (fat) survived 60 days with loss of 49 per 

 cent (see Figs. 31 and ^ ) t ) ). 



Von Bechterew ('95) found that a newborn puppy on total inanition lived 

 6 days with loss of 37 per cent in body weight; one at 3 days lived 8 days with 

 loss of 34 per cent; two at n days lived 15-17 days with loss of 38-41 per cent. 

 Similarly a kitten aged 2 days lived 4 days with loss of 18 per cent; one at 4 

 days lived 6 days with loss of 22 per cent; while one at 6 days lived 6 days with 

 loss of 26 per cent. 



On water alone,- Dehon ('05) found that 7 kittens aged 3-17 weeks lived 

 4-8 days with loss of 10-45 P er cent m body weight. Similarly, Howe, 



