EFFECTS ON THE BLOOD 



251 



count increases progressively, with some fluctuations, to the end, excepting 

 in some cases a slight decrease in the last few days. With water, the red cell 

 count increases up to a loss of about 30 per cent in body weight, then decreases 

 gradually, finally below the initial count. The changes in the leukocyte count, 

 total and differential, are shown in the accompanying table (average of 8 dogs 

 on total inanition). 



Leukocyte Counts in Starved Dogs (Poletaew) 



Okintschitz ('93, '93a) made differential leukocyte counts on 8 rabbits 

 during total inanition and refeeding. During inanition the relative number of 

 lymphocytes and polymorphonuclears is progressively decreased, while the 

 eosinophiles and "round nucleated" forms correspondingly increase. On refeed- 

 ing, the normal relations are gradually reached. His results, however, have 

 been criticised by Kallmark ('n) and Schwartz ('14). 



In 12 rabbits on total inanition, London ('95, '96) found that the total blood 

 volume decreases in proportion to the body weight. Popel ('96) found a con- 

 stant increase in the density of the blood in 10 rabbits and 10 dogs during total 

 inanition. In rabbits starved 4 days, or underfed 12 days, Kieseritzky ('02) 

 noted a concentration of the blood, with increased red cell count, which gradu- 

 ally decreased to normal upon refeeding. Ronsse and Van Wilder ('03) in 

 8 rabbits on total inanition likewise noted increase in concentration and red 

 cell counts, although there was some tendency to decrease in the longer fasts, 

 as shown by the accompanying table. 



Daily Erythrocyte Count, by Ronsse and Van Wilder ('03), in Fasting Rabbits, 

 Averaged for 3-day Periods (I-IX) 



