EFFECTS OF INANITION UPON ORGANS OF PtAT 101 



SPLEEN 



In the acute inanition series (table 3), the spleen forms an 

 average of 0.21 per cent of the body. This is below the normal 

 for the average corresponding initial body weight, in which case 

 the average is 0.27 per cent. In the chronic inanition series, 

 however, the average (0.30 per cent) is slightly higher than 

 the normal (Jackson '13). The individuals in both acute and 

 chronic inanition, however, are exceedingly variable, as seen in 

 the table. This is also true of the normal spleen, which is one 

 of the most variable organs in the body (Jackson '13). The 

 number of observations is therefore insufficient for final conclu- 

 sions concerning the effect of inanition upon the weight of the 

 spleen in the albino rat. 



In terms of absolute weight, taking Hatai's ('13) curve for the 

 normal, there is apparently a decrease in the weight of the 

 spleen from about 0.645 to 0.3177 gram (loss of 51 per cent) in 

 the acute inanition series; and from 0.570 to 0.4056 gram (loss 

 of 29 per cent) in the chronic series. 



That the spleen loses heavily during inanition, losing in rela- 

 tive as well as absolute weight, has been found in man (Aschoff 

 '11; Stschastny '98), pigeon (Chossat '43), rabbit (Bowin '80), 

 and cat (Voit '66; Sedlmair '99); while a decrease less marked 

 than in the whole body (relative increase) appears in the dog 

 (Falck '54) and in thin steers, compared with fat (data from 

 Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station). Data from von 

 Bechterew ('95) indicate a relative increase in the spleen of 

 newborn kittens during inanition, but a decrease in puppies. 

 These apparently conflicting statements are perhaps to be ex- 

 plained largely by the great variability of the spleen, making 

 comparison with controls uncertain. In addition, however, there 

 is the possibihty that the loss in the spleen may vary according 

 to the character and stage of inanition. Thus Lasarew ('97) in 

 the guinea-pig found the greatest loss in weight of the spleen 

 to occur in the middle period of inanition (second period of 

 10 per cent loss in body weight), during which the spleen lost 

 31 per cent in weight. 



