250 INANITION AND MALNUTRITION 



Buntzen ('79) found in fasting dogs an increased red cell count, which 

 decreased on refeeding. Both consumption and regeneration thus appear more 

 rapid in the plasma than in the red corpuscles. Reyne ('81) in a starving dog 

 likewise found a progressive increase in the red cell count up to death at 25 days; 

 but the leukocyte count showed great variation. In guinea pigs on absolute 

 inanition up to 6 days, Cadet ('81) also found a progressive increase in the red 

 cell count, but a decrease in leukocytes and platelets. 



Nasse ('50) stated that the white corpuscles become less numerous in the 

 blood of emaciated frogs. In starving larvae of Rana and Bufo, Cunningham 

 ('80) found the red blood cells to undergo decolorization and fatty degeneration. 

 Leonard ('87) noted seasonal changes in the blood cells of Rana temporaria. 

 Mosso ('87) found the red blood cells of fasting frogs and tortoises more resis- 

 tant to hemolysis (confirmed by Gallerani '92). Ehrlich ('91) found more eosino- 

 philes in the frog's blood during the winter, and more mast cells upon refeeding 

 in the spring. In starved tritons, Jolly ('01) noted that after refeeding there 

 appear in the blood spherical erythroblasts which show mitoses. In Amia calva 

 starved 20 months, Smallwood ('16) found a marked reduction in the number of 

 red and white blood cells, but no apparent morphological changes. 



In pigeons, Lukianow ('88, '89) found no marked change in the water con- 

 tent of the blood during total inanition. Hoffman ('22) and Palmer and Hoff- 

 man ('22), however, found in starved pigeons a reduction in the red cell count 

 from 3.1 millions to 2.8 millions, and an increase in leukocytes from 170,000 

 to 280,000. 



In a dog, given water alone for 43 days, Luciani and Bufalini ('82) found the 

 blood more concentrated, with increased hemoglobin, in the earlier days; but a 

 decrease later. Hayem ('82, '89), in a dog fasting 25 days, found the red cell 

 count increased from 4,200,000 to 5,550,000 on the 18th day, then decreasing to 

 4,800,000 at the end. Kahan ('83, '84) in 6 starving dogs likewise found an 

 increased concentration of the blood in the earlier days; later it decreased but 

 may not fall below normal. He also noted in later stages that the red cells 

 become smaller and crenated. 



Groll ('87) and Hermann ('88) found the ratio of hemoglobin to dry sub- 

 stance during total inanition increasing in rabbits up to 16 days, in cats up to 22 

 days, and in dogs up to 21 days; but the ratio decreases in longer experiments. 



Luibomudrow ('93), in 17 fasting dogs, found the red cell count stationary 

 or increasing up to a loss of 10-15 P er cent m body weight, later decreasing up 

 to death. There are great individual variations. In 15 of the dogs, the leu- 

 kocyte count decreased up to a loss of 20 per cent in body weight; later increas- 

 ing, sometimes above normal. The lymphocytes decrease, both relatively and 

 absolutely, except in the early period. The mononuclears increase from 

 10 to 25 per cent; and the polynuclears decrease relatively at the beginning. 

 Eosinophiles sometimes appear although previously absent. 



Lackschewitz ('93) claimed that in fasting cats the water content of the 

 erythrocytes may vary considerably, but that of the serum remains fairly 

 constant, contrary to the general belief. 



Poletaew ('93, '94, '95) made daily blood counts in 10 dogs starved to death, 

 8 on total inanition and 2 on water only. During total inanition, the red cell 



