ULTIMATE EFFECTS OF INANITION ON SIZE 123 



three of the four groups (table 2), the overweight varying from 

 1.2 to 14.9 per cent. 



The lungs, which were nearly normal in weight in the underfed 

 rats refed to body weight of 25 to 75 grams, are distinctly subnor- 

 mal in three of the four groups of the present series (table 2). 

 The enormous overweight (+314 per cent) in the fourth group 

 is undoubtedly pathological, due to a chronic lung disease, which 

 occurs frequently in the older rats. 



The liver, which shows a marked growth tendency during the 

 earlier inanition periods, is variable in weight later, and in the 

 rats refed to a body weight of 25 to 75 grams. In the present 

 sefries (table 2) refed to a maximum body weight, the liver appears 

 above normal in all groups (+3.4 to +19.9 per cent). On ac- 

 count of the great normal variability in the size of the liver, 

 however, the significance of this apparent hypertrophy is some- 

 what uncertain. 



The spleen is exceedingly variable in weight, both normally 

 and after various inanition periods. In the rats refed to body 

 weight of 25 to 75 grams, the spleen was found usually above 

 normal in the earlier stages and subnormal later. In the present 

 series refed to maximum body weight (table 2), the spleen ap- 

 pears somewhat above normal (+8.2 and +11.8 per cent) in 

 the groups underfed from birth, but below normal (—7.0 and 

 — 12.6 per cent) in those underfed beginning at three weeks of 

 age. It is uncertain as to how much of this difference is due 

 merely to normal variability. 



The kidneys were usually found normal in weight in the rats 

 refed to a body weight of 25 to 75 grams. In the present series, 

 refed to maximum body weight (table 2), they likewise differ but 

 little from the normal, excepting the third group, which appears 

 above normal (+22.5 per cent). As the kidneys normally show 

 considerable variation in weight, this exception is of doubtful 

 significance. 



The stomach and intestines (without contents) show a remark- 

 ably strong tendency to increase in weight during the earlier 

 underfeeding periods, though becoming subnormal during the 

 later and longer fasting experiments. On refeeding (after early 



