278 INANITION AND MALNUTRITION 



macrophagic reaction to the increased erythrocytic destruction in the anemia 

 associated with the condition. 



In famine-stricken children of various ages, Nicolaeff ('23) described the 

 spleen as firm in consistence, with atrophy of the pulp and increase of fibrous 

 trabeculae. Some edematous cases showed hyperemia or hemorrhagic infiltra- 

 tion, with atrophy of the lymphoid tissue, early hyalin degeneration and 

 increased amount of brown pigment. Splenic and hepatic hemosiderosis was 

 likewise observed by Stephani ('23). 



In starved animals, Tiedemann ('36) found the blood vessels of the viscera 

 in general, including the spleen, contracted and empty, hence giving the organs 

 a pale or greyish tint. Falck ('75) in starved dogs found the spleen "braun- 

 roth, glanzend, schlaff , fein gerunzelt und blutleer." 



Morpurgo ('88, '89), in rabbits starved 5-13 days, described the spleen as 

 atrophic and anemic, with relative enlargement of the trabeculae and reduction 

 of the lymphoid tissue in the Malpighian nodules and pulp cords. Mitoses 

 occur in the normal adult rabbits, but become rare during inanition. Giant cells 

 were observed in the spleen of a starved rabbit 15 days old. In rabbits refed 

 5 days after starvation for 10 days, Morpurgo ('90) found the spleen somewhat 

 increased in size but still subnormal in weight. The pulp appeared relatively 

 increased (compared with the starved condition), and the venous spaces and 

 trabeculae correspondingly decreased. The histological structure resembled 

 the normal. Mitoses were abundant in the pulp and especially in the center of 

 the lymphoid nodules. 



Coen ('90) noted the changes during starvation (with or without water) 

 in 3 rabbits and 1 kitten. The spleen shows marked atrophy of the splenic 

 pulp, rendering the connective tissue trabeculae very prominent. The Malpi- 

 ghian nodules are poor in lymphoid cells. The veins appear distended. Some 

 small hemorrhagic foci occur, with both extracellular and intracellular hematic 

 pigment, occurring chiefly just beneath the capsule, more sparsely in the 

 splenic pulp. Blumenthal ('04) found the histological structure fairly well 

 preserved in the spleen of starved frogs. Opie ('04) observed a marked decrease 

 in the number of eosinophiles in the spleen of fasting guinea pigs, as stated in 

 Chapter XV. Cesaris-Demel ('06) noted pigmented granules in the cells and 

 connective tissue of the spleen in rabbits with marasmus produced by bacterial 

 infections. 



In 4 starved cats, Beeli ('08) found that the atrophy of the spleen is caused 

 by decrease in the pulp. The trabeculae remain unchanged in size, and there- 

 fore become relatively very prominent and closely arranged, though inconspicu- 

 ous in the normal spleen. The Malpighian nodules are also reduced in size 

 and closer together. In some places, the blood capillaries (sinuses) are dilated. 

 The nuclear diameters of the lymphoid cells in the Malpighian nodules were 

 measured and tabulated according to size and frequency distribution, showing 

 a tendency to progressive decrease in nuclear size during inanition. 



In birds (pigeon, fowl, duck), guinea pigs and rats fasting for various 

 periods, Jolly and Levin ('12a) noted atrophy of the lymphoid tissue, especially 

 in the Malpighian nodules, the pulp otherwise being unaffected. Refeeding 



