EFFECTS ON THE HYPOPHYSIS 



449 



(A) 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 lower animals. A few observations on the pineal 

 body are also included. The data on the animal hypophysis are chronologi- 

 cally arranged, excepting some concerning hibernation, which are placed at 

 the close of this section. 



Human Adults. — Erdheim ('03) described in the cells of the anterior lobe 

 of the human hypophysis small fatty granules, which, like those of the thyroid 

 and parathyroids, are apparently independent of the general nutritive con- 

 dition of the body. 



In a man who died of starvation, Meyer ('17) found great congestion and 

 hemorrhagic areas in the anterior lobe of the hypophysis. The epithelium 

 showed marked reduction and degeneration, similar to that in the suprarenals. 

 The characteristic chromophile granulation was faintly evident, and a few 

 small masses of colloid were found. 



Roessle ('19) stated that no atrophy (decrease in weight) was evident in 

 the hypophysis of soldiers emaciated by chronic fevers, etc. Krieger ('20) 

 held that, in general, the available data are too few to determine whether the 

 hypophysis participates in the general atrophy of the body during inanition; 

 although in general infections, the hypophysis weight is below the general 

 average, as shown by the accompanying table. 



Weight of the Adult Human Hypophysis in Various Conditions of Malnutrition 



(Krieger '20) 



In athreptic infants, Lucien ('08) found lesions in the various endocrine 

 glands, including the hypophysis, which "ne secrete pour ainsi dire pas de 

 colloide." Mattei ('14) found the individual weights of the hypophysis in 8 

 atrophic infants below 3 months of age as shown in the accompanying table. 



