346 . C. M. JACKSON 



In both parathyroid and thyroid (especially the latter) the 

 normal structure is somewhat variable, and a few cells of atro- 

 phic, degenerative character occur. These atrophic types be- 

 come much more pronounced and numerous during inanition. 



The fibrous interstitial tissue (stroma) undergoes little change 

 during inanition, though sometimes it is increased in amount 

 by edemic infiltration (especially in the thyroid). 



Very little is found in the literature concerning the effect of 

 inanition upon the parathyroid glands. Erdheim ('03) finds in 

 the human parathyroid small droplets or granules of a fatty 

 nature, which increase in number with age, and are apparently 

 independent of the general nutritive condition of the body. 



Pepere ('06) in his extensive work on the parathyroid gland 

 mentions briefly (p. 265) some observations upon the effects of 

 inanition on the parathyroid in dogs starved 9 to 27 days, and 

 in two human cases of death from inanition following oesopha- 

 geal obstruction. The parathyroid is found relatively less af- 

 fected than any other viscera. In the dog there is atrophy of 

 the parenchyma, especially of the cytoplasm, which becomes 

 greatly reduced in amount, with vacuolization and loss of the 

 characteristic granulation. The nucleus is hyperchromatic. 

 In the human parathyroid, the effects of inanition are similar, 

 including: ''rimpicciolimento dei corpi cellulari, diminuite le 

 granulazioni protoplasmatiche, scarsissimi gli elementi cromofili, 

 estese degenerazioni idropiche e vacuolari delle cellule, assente 

 la colloide." Thus Pepere's observations upon the human and 

 canine parathyroids are in general agreement with my findings 

 in the rat, excepting that he does not mention the occurrence of 

 (advanced) pycnosis or karyolysis. 



According to Thompson ('06) the parathyroids in man cannot 

 be said to have a distinct pathology, although various degenera- 

 tions and other pathologic conditions have been described. He 

 cites the work of Peterson and of Benjamins, in which paren- 

 chymatous atrophy, hydropic degeneration, etc., are shown to 

 occur frequently in the human parathyroid. 



Following the description by Welsh ('98) there are generally 

 described in the parathyroid of man (and some of the lower ani- 



