312 INANITION AND MALNUTRITION 



In human rickets, Comby ('01) and others have reported that the stomach 

 and intestines are usually dilated. The same was found by Jackson and Carle- 

 ton ('22) in albino rats with experimental rickets. The stomach and intestines 

 without contents were found subnormal in weight, however (Table 11). 



In human beriberi (vitamin B deficiency), Ellis ('98) noted congestion of the 

 stomach in 31 out of 57 autopsies; with blood clots in 4. Strong and Crowell 

 ('12) found acute gastroduodenitis. Andrews ('12), in infantile beriberi 

 (18 necropsies), found the gastric mucosa anemic; duodenum congested; intes- 

 tines otherwise normal, or a few petechiae. In experimental polyneuritis of 

 fowls and pigeons, Tasawa ('15) observed mild catarrhal inflammation of the 

 crop, and distinct atrophy of the stomach (gizzard) muscle. Lumiere ('20a) 

 concluded that pigeons on polished rice diet are subjected to starvation, with 

 stagnation of the ingested rice in the alimentary canal due to lack of digestive 

 secretions. Findlay ('21) noted a loss of 19 per cent in the stomach weight 

 in rice-fed fowls, and of 23 per cent in rice-fed pigeons, with slightly larger losses 

 during simple inanition (Table 13). 



In human scurvy, Sato and Nambu ('08) observed that the esophageal 

 mucosa was intact; the gastric mucosa variable, anemic or congested, with pete- 

 chiae in one case. Hess ('20) stated that the scorbutic gastric lesions are usually 

 unimportant, with occasional hemorrhages or ulcerations. In experimental 

 scurvy in guinea pigs, Bessesen ('23) found the weight of the stomach somewhat 

 subnormal in the early stages, but distinctly above normal in the later stages (Table 

 12). The intestines appeared similar in weight changes. The gastrointestinal 

 contents, however, appeared greatly increased in the early stages of scurvy. 



In a dog on dry diet with loss of 20 per cent in body weight, Falck and Schef- 

 fer ('54) noted an apparent loss of 17.9 per cent in the weight of the stomach, and 

 the same in the intestine. 



In a similar dog, Pernice and Scagliosi ('95a) found the stomach contracted 

 with strongly folded mucosa; pale near the cardia, reddish near the pylorus. 

 The gastric mucosa showed numerous small, superficial, rounded erosions or 

 ulcerations, containing brownish, hemorrhagic masses. Microscopically the 

 stomach showed hyperemia and hemorrhagic infiltrations, with atrophy of 

 the glands in some places. Some mitoses (normal or abnormal) were seen in the 

 fundus glands. The superficial epithelial cells appeared reduced in size, vacuo- 

 lated and poorly stained. Round cell infiltration occurred in the interglandular 

 stroma, in the submucosa and in the muscular coat. 



Kudo ('21) noted a loss of about 30 per cent in the empty stomach and 

 intestines of albino rats on a dry diet with loss of 30-52 per cent in body weight 

 (Table 9). In young rats held at constant body weight for various periods by 

 dry diets, Kudo ('21a) found a progressive increase in the weight of the stomach- 

 intestines, both empty and with contents (Table 10). This indicates a con- 

 tinued growth of the tract similar to that found by Jackson and Stewart in 

 young rats during underfeeding. 



3. THE INTESTINES 



Some data concerning changes in the weight and structure of the intestine 

 in general have already been mentioned in the foregoing pages in connection 



