EFFECTS ON THE SPLEEN 275 



heavier than in a normal control of the same litter (probably an individual 

 variation). In newborn kittens on acute inanition (water only), Bechterew 

 ('95) noted a relative increase in the weight of the spleen in kittens, but a decrease 

 in puppies. 



In 4 groups of guinea pigs (10 in each group) starved without water by 

 Lazareff ('95), with average losses of 10, 20, 30, and 36 per cent in body weight, 

 respectively, the corresponding losses in the weight of the spleen were o, 31, 

 37 and 44 per cent (Table 5). Thus apparently the spleen is at first resistant, 

 but loses greatly in the second period. Kusmin ('96) noted that, of the various 

 organs, the spleen, liver and intestine suffered the greatest relative loss in 

 rabbits and guinea pigs, with or without water, at ordinary or elevated tempera- 

 tures. In 3 rabbits on water only with loss of 35-41 per cent in body weight, 

 Weiske found a loss of about two-thirds in the fresh weight of the spleen, and 

 slightly more in the dry weight. A similar loss in spleen weight was observed 

 by Quattrochi ('01) in underfed puppies with loss of about 25 per cent in body 

 weight. 



Miescher ('97) noted during the migratory fast of the Rhine salmon an 

 enormous decrease in the size of the spleen, which becomes reduced to stroma, 

 with loss of blood and atrophy of the lymphoid cells. 



Beeli ('08) found apparent losses up to 83 per cent in the weight of the 

 spleen in 4 cats starved (water only) with losses up to 51 per cent in body weight. 

 Jolly and Levin ('12a) in birds (pigeon, fowl, duck) starved 4-9 days without 

 water found an apparent average loss of 60 per cent in spleen weight; body loss 

 30 per cent. In the guinea pig, they found the spleen loss 52 per cent, body loss 

 36 per cent; and in the rat, spleen loss 46 per cent, body loss 26 per cent. Jolly 

 ('14) in 2 puppies, 1 month old, on water 6-8 days, with body loss of 27 per 

 cent, noted an apparent loss of 73.5 per cent in the spleen weight, which was 

 relatively greater than the loss in the thymus (68.1 per cent), or lymphatic 

 glands (41-57 per cent). In 2 rabbits, 6}^ months old, with loss of 23.5 percent 

 in body weight, the spleen lost 63 per cent, which was less than the thymus loss 

 (88 per cent) but greater than that of the lymphatic glands (39-53 per cent). 



Giannelli ('16) reported a marked decrease in the size of the spleen and other 

 viscera in the teleost, Tinea vulgaris, after 5 months without food. 



In adult albino rats on acute inanition (water only), Jackson ('15) found, 

 with body loss of 34 per cent, an apparent average loss of 51 per cent in the 

 weight of the spleen; while in a series on chronic underfeeding, with loss of 36 

 per cent in body weight, the spleen lost only 29 per cent. The great individual 

 variability in the size of the spleen was emphasized. 



In underfeeding experiments upon younger, growing albino rats, the effects 

 upon the spleen weight appear variable (Table 4). In experiments on rats 

 beginning at 3 weeks of age, Jackson ('15a) found an average loss of 42 per cent 

 in the spleen of those underfed (at constant body weight) to 10 weeks of age, 

 whereas in longer experiments the spleen showed but slight apparent loss. 

 Stewart ('18) in rats severely underfed from birth found at 3 weeks an apparent 

 loss of 49 per cent in the spleen weight; while in those underfed up to 10 weeks 

 there was an apparent increase of 24 per cent in the spleen. In another series 



