106 



CM. JACKSON 



DISCUSSION 



The changes in the average relative weights of the various 

 organs and systems as a result of inanition in the adult albino 

 rat are summarized in table 2. 



While no great emphasis can be laid upon the exactness of the 

 figures shown in table 2, it is evident that with respect to rela- 

 tive loss in weight during inanition, the organs may be divided 

 into three groups. In the first group, which includes the supra- 

 renals, thyroid, skeleton, eyeballs, spinal cord and brain, and 

 thymus, there is but little (if any) loss in absolute weight during 

 inanition, and a corresponding increase in relative (percentage) 

 weight. In general, there is a relatively greater loss during chronic 



TABLE 2 



ORGAX OR SYSTEM 



NORMAL PERCE>fTAGE 



OF BODY AT INITIAL 



BODY WEIGHT 



PERCENTAGE OF BODY 

 AFTER INANITION 



Suprarenals 



(male) 0.0170 



Thymus 0.0200 



Thyroid gland... 0.0150(0.016) 



Spinal cord 0.2500(0.290) 



Ligamentous 



skeleton 10.0000 



Eyeballs 0.1200(0.130) 



Brain 0.7800(0.870) 



Kidneys 0.9500 



Hypophysis 0.0036 



Heart 0.4300 



Testes 0.9000 



Lungs 0.6000 



Musculature 45 . 0000 



Integument...... 18.0000 



Whole body 100.0000 



Spleen 0.2700 



Stomach — intes- 

 tines 6.0000 



Liver 4.5000 



Acute 



0.0220, 

 0.0200 

 0.0230 

 0.400O 



15.0000 

 0.1900 

 1.1700 



Chronic 



0.0260 

 0.0210 

 0.0200 

 0.4300 



• 



16.4000 

 0.2000 

 1 .3300 



PERCENTAGE LOSS OF ORGAN 

 DURING INANITION 



Chronic 



+ 1.5(?) 

 0(?) 

 0(?) 

 0(?) 



-0.4 



-4.4 

 -5.1 



0.9600 l.OOCO -25.5 



0.0043 0.0045 -26.1 



0.4400l 0.4200 -27.7 



1.0600 1.0100 -29.8 



0.6100 0.5500 -30.9 



47.50001 

 19.10001 



43.0000 -30.9 

 17.80001 -31.2 



lOO.OOOa 100.0000] -33.9 



0.2100 0.3100 -51.0 



3.4000! 3.5000 -57.0 



3.1000! 4.0000 -58.0 



-8.9 



0(?) 



-21.8 



-4.0 



+ 1.8(?) 



-5.8 



-6.6 



-26.8 

 -25.3 

 -32.8 

 -40.3 

 -40.0 



-40.8 

 -38.5 

 -36.1 



-29.0 



-57.0 

 -43.0 



