336 



ZOOLOGY. 



of colored liglit on the excretion of carbonic acid, the following results 

 were obtained : 



Uninjured frog 

 Uuiniured bird 

 Uninjured rat . 

 Blind mammal 



Dark- 

 ness. 



Red. 



100 

 100 

 100 

 100 



100. 5 

 128 

 111 

 109 



Blue- 

 violet. 



115 

 139 

 140 

 114 



White. 



112 

 142 

 137 

 113 



It is concluded that light has " a considerable iuliuence on metabolic 

 activity. It increases the excretion of carbonic acid and the ingestion 

 of oxygen, but this influence is not only mediate through the eyes, it 

 obtains through the skin, for it is seen in ej'eless animals. When the 

 eyes only or the skin only are aliected, the result is less than when the 

 whole animal is brought under its influence. The tissues are no less 

 affected than the whole body. The chemical rays have greater eftect 

 than the heating ones, and the result that light has a chemical influence 

 on metabolism cannot be evaded." (Abstract from J. R. M. S.) 



EFFECTS OF STARVATION. 



Surg. D. B. Cunningham, of the Indian medical ser\ice, has investi- 

 gated the i)hysiology of starvation in certain fungous plants, and Am- 

 phibans (of the tadpoles of a toad — Bufo melanostictm and a irog — 

 Eana tigrina).* The result of his investigation was to demonstrate that 

 a fatty degeneration and disintegration of the protoi)lasm ensued, and 

 in the animals an atrophy of the intestinal canal. The fatty degenera- 

 tion effects in the greatest degree the lining cells of the digestive canal, 

 and this in time is completely left destitute of epithelium, and therefore 

 no longer capable of fulfilling the functions of secretion and absorption. 

 When this climax is reached death must ensue, but as long as any of the 

 epithelium is left (even though it be much degenerated) recovery is pos- 

 sible. In connection with these experiments Surgeon Cfmniugham has 

 studied the phenomena exhibited by starvation in the case of the in- 

 habitants of India who suffered and died from the famine lately preva- 

 lent in that country. Although patients that had been for some time 

 deprived of food showed no symptoms of actual disease, they were at- 

 tacked by diarrhoea and dysentery with almost certainly fatal results, 

 and thus was indicated inability for assimilation. A i)Ost-morteui ex- 

 amination proved that there was, as in the case of the plants and ani- 

 mals experimented upon, a fatty degeneration of the tissues, especially 

 the alimentary canal. So long, however, as the sufferers had a small 

 amount of nutriment no active symjitoms were manifested, and it was 

 only when they were afforded a generous supply, that famine diarrhoea 

 and dysentery commenced. The most rigorous attention and regimen 



* Cuuuingliam (D. D.). Certain effects of starvation on vegetable and .animal tis- 

 sues. Quart. Jour. Micr. Science, Janayiry, 1880. 



