272 INANITION AND MALNUTRITION 



It will be noted that the estimated loss in spleen weight varied from 27.6-48 

 per cent in the various groups, which is approximately the same as the aver- 

 age loss in corresponding body weight. 



Weber ('21) compared the weight of the spleen as found in 1,257 autopsy 

 records at Kiel for the years 1914-1918. Unfortunately no body weights were 

 available. Comparing the period of good nutrition (1914-1915) with that of 

 subnutrition (1916-1918), the average weight of the spleen shows a slight 

 decrease in the males from 156.5 g. to 137 g. ; and in the female from 141. 5 g. to 

 128 g. From 50 necropsies in cases of death from starvation, Stefko ('23) 

 concludes that there is a loss in both relative and absolute weight of the spleen. 



n — 1 — 1 — 1 — r 



£70 



90 



— c 



-3 





••{*»?;•. •*. • - .'? 



Body Length in Cenfimctera 



1 ■»?«•?<»<»• T r " 1 1 1 1 1 lJj r 1 1 1 1 1 l_j 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 



Fig. 75. — Graph showing the individual weights of the spleen, according to body length, 

 in atrophic human cases, newborn to adult, from various sources. The curve of normal spleen 

 weight is from data compiled by Prof. R. E. Scammon. Great individual variation is evident, 

 but in most cases the weight is below normal. 



Sison ('20) in 4 adult males on voluntary fasting observed a decrease in 

 the splenic area of dulness on percussion, which he ascribed partly to a decrease 

 in the size of the spleen, and partly to increased tympany of the overlying lung 

 margin. 



Bean and Baker ('19) from a study of a large series of organ weights at 

 autopsy concluded that the weight of the spleen varies directly with the degree 

 of general nutrition of the body (body weights not available). Pearl and Bacon 

 ('22), however, from a statistical study of the ratios between the weights of 

 various organs at autopsy found an indication of an increased absolute weight 

 of the spleen in fatal tuberculosis, which usually produces marked emaciation 

 of the body. 



In Fig. 75, representing a field graph of the spleen weight in emaciated 

 individuals (from various sources), under 20 years of age, arranged according to 



