EFFECTS ON THE URINARY TRACT 



373 



tion, concluded that the kidney weight is markedly decreased in such cases, 

 though least among the chronic infections. In the accompanying table of 

 average weights, 0.48 per cent of the body weight (Vierordt's norm for 20-25 

 years) is assumed as normal for the males. For females, Thoma's average of 

 276 g. is taken as the norm. All the cases included in the table are males, 

 excepting the first group (6 males and 5 females). Cases directly involving 

 the kidney (e.g., renal tuberculosis) are excluded. Krieger states that the 



Average Weight of Kidneys in Emaciated Adults (Krieger '20) 



Cause of inanition 



No. of 

 cases 



Normal 

 weight, g. 



Observed 

 weight, g. 



Percentage 

 decrease 



Percentage 

 of body wt. 



I. Without chronic organic disease. . . 



II. Chronic diarrhea 



III. Malignant growths 



IV. Chronic general infections (not tb.) 

 V. General tuberculosis 



VI. Various cases in the aged 



0.546 

 0.546 

 0.556 

 0.724 

 0.710 



0.518 



Allowing for age change; using Thoma's norm for 60-80 years. 



individual variations in weight were greater in the kidneys than in the heart. 

 The strongly atrophic kidneys were almost always hyperemic (excepting 2 

 cases of chronic diarrhea). Since in various cases of human fasting up to 30 

 days the urinary secretion remained nearly normal, Krieger concluded that an 

 extensive simple atrophy of the kidney from inanition may cause no appreci- 

 able functional disturbance. 



In order to see whether the war conditions had affected the organ weights, 

 Weber ('21) compared the data from 1,257 autopsies at Kiel for the years from 

 1914 to 1918, inclusive. Only apparently normal organs were included. The 

 body weights were not available. The average (without capsule) in the males 

 for the right kidney was 135 g.; for the left, 145 g. In the females, the average 

 for the right kidney was 122 g.; for the left, 128 g. On comparing the period 

 of general good nutrition (1914-15) with that of subnutrition (1916-18), no 

 significant difference was found in the average weight of the kidneys. 



In malnourished infants, Parrot ('77) emphasized steatosis as the most 

 characteristic change in the various organs, including the tubules of the kid- 

 neys. He also found venous thrombosis and uratic infarcts. 



Ohlmuller ('82) recorded a weight of 25 g. for the kidneys in an atrophic 

 infant of 8 weeks (body weight 2,381 g.), while in a well nourished control 

 of the same age the kidneys weighed32.3 g. (body weight 4,150 g.). 



Thiercelin ('04) stated that the renal lesions in athreptic infants are often 

 severe. The tubular steatosis (of Parrot) occurs as deposits of fatty granules 

 or droplets in the cells of the convoluted tubules. Irregular deposits of fat 

 may cause deformity or varicose appearance of the tubules. The glomeruli 

 present no lesions, aside from congestion. In the pyramids, the fatty granules 

 and droplets are more irregular. Thiercelin says the work of Simmonds ('96) 



