436 



INANITION AND MALNUTRITION 



stages, with an abundant accumulation of colloid in the later stages. Normal 

 structure is regained upon the addition of iodin to the diet. 



Parathyroid Glands. — From the somewhat scanty data, we may conclude 

 that in adults (human and animal) during inanition in general the parathyroids 

 probably tend to decrease in volume, with a variable degree of atrophy (and 

 degeneration in extreme cases) in the parenchyma, and of increase in the fibrous 

 stroma. Similar changes occur during inanition in the young, with decrease 

 in size of the parathyroids in atrophic infants, but apparent hypertrophy in 

 young rats. Hypertrophy of the parathyroid glands appears to be charac- 

 teristic also in rickets. 



i. THE THYROID GLAND 



The effects of inanition upon the thyroid gland will be considered under (^4) 

 total inanition (or on water only), and (B) partial inanition. 



(.4) Effects of Total Inanition, or on Water Only 



The data for the human species (adult and infant) will be presented first, 

 followed by those for the animals. 



Human Adults. — For human adults, the data are scanty. Erdheim ('03) 

 described in the thyroid cells small fat droplets or granules which appear 

 unaffected by the general nutritive condition of the body. Bardier ('13) 

 stated that the (colloid?) secretion of the thyroid continues throughout the 

 period of inanition. Meyer ('17) in a case of human starvation found the 

 thyroid epithelium well preserved but atrophic and flattened; and the follicles 

 usually distended with colloid. 



Roessle ('19) observed no notable decrease in the weight of the thyroid 

 gland in malnourished adults. Krieger ('20) estimated a marked decrease in 

 various groups (soldier material) assuming the normal to be about 34 g. (in 

 agreement with Rossle and Vierordt). The average results of Krieger are 

 shown in the accompanying table. Thus the thyroid atrophy appears relatively 



Weight of the Adult Human Thyroid Gland in Various Conditions of Malnutrition 



(Krieger '20) 



1 The normal is 0.05 per cent (Vierordt). 



nearly as great as that of the entire body. Considerable variation was found in 

 the amount of colloid in the follicles. 



