EFFECTS OF INANITION UPON ORGANS OF RAT 77 



about 33 per cent). This represents moderately severe, but not 

 extreme inanition, as a well-nourished adult albino rat will 

 probably lose 40 per cent of his body weight before death, if 

 kept warm. When pushed to the extreme, however, the rat is 

 likely to die unexpectedly, with undesirable post mortem 

 changes. These might affect not only the structure but also the 

 weight of the organs, through congestion and coagulation of blood, 

 and should therefore be avoided. Three of the rats included (table 

 3, rats Nos. M 9, M 13, and S 28) were found dead, and in this 

 case merely the weights of the head, extremities, integument, 

 skeleton and musculature (which did not appear to be materially 

 affected) are recorded. 



In the rats subjected to acute inanition, the daily loss in 

 body weight was fairly uniform in some individuals, but varied 

 greatly in others. As might be expected, the loss is usually 

 (though not invariably) greatest on the first day of the experi- 

 ment, probably due to the reduction in contents of the stomach 

 and intestines. In most cases (11 out of 15) the loss in body 

 weight is greater during the first half than during the second 

 half of the experiment, though the difference is usually slight. 

 There is no constant relation between the percentage loss in 

 body weight and either the initial body weight or the length of 

 the inanition period. In general, the loss in body weight of 

 albino rats during acute inanition is very similar in extent and 

 variations to that found by Chossat ('43) for pigeons. Chossat 

 demonstrated that the loss in body weight is greatest in the first 

 third of the inanition period, sHghtly less in the last third, and 

 considerably less in the middle third. 



In order to compare the results of chronic inanition, 6 rats 

 (all males) were fed upon a bread and milk diet gradually de- 

 creased in amount, so as to reduce the body weight about 1 per 

 cent (of the initial weight) daily. Water ad libitum was also 

 supplied. This was continued until the loss in body weight 

 amounted to an average of about 36 per cent, which required 

 about 5 weeks (table 3). The amount of food (entire wheat 

 (Graham) bread soaked in whole milk) , required for this purpose 

 varied somewhat in individuals, but was approximately 10 per 



