510 DIGESTION 



tionship obtains, vasoconstriction being more prominent. During each 

 hunger contraction there is also increased salivation, the degree of 

 which varies with different individuals. This salivation is independent 

 of the more copious "watering of the mouth" that accompanies the 

 thought or sight of appetizing food. 



Hunger During Starvation. During enforced starvation for long periods 

 of time, it is known that healthy individuals at first experience intense sen- 

 sations of hunger and appetite, which last however only for a few days, then 

 become less pronounced and finally almost disappear. It is of interest to 

 know the relationship between these sensations and the hunger contractions 

 in the stomach. This has been investigated by Carlson and Luckhardt, who 

 voluntarily subjected themselves to complete starvation, except for the 

 taking of water, for four days. During a great part of this time records 

 of the stomach contractions were taken by the balloon method, and it 

 was found that the tonus of the stomach and also the frequency and 

 intensity of the hunger contractions became progressively more pronounced 

 as starvation proceeded. Towards the end of the period it was also noted 

 that incomplete hunger tetanus made its appearance where ordinarily, 

 as in Carlson's case, this type of hunger contraction was infrequent. 

 Sensations of hunger were present more or less throughout the period, 

 being therefore probably due to the persistently increased tonus. The 

 onset of a period of hunger contraction could usually be foretold by an 

 increase in the hunger sensation, and as these contractions became more 

 marked, the hunger sensations became more intense. On the last day of 

 starvation a burning sensation referred to the epigastrium was added to 

 that of hunger. The appetite ran practically parallel with the sensa- 

 tion of hunger, and both of these sensations became perceptibly dimin- 

 ished on the fourth or last day of starvation, this diminution being, 

 however, most marked in the sensation of appetite. Indeed, instead of an 

 eagerness for food, there developed on the last day a distinct repugnance 

 or indifference towards it. Accompanying these sensations of hunger 

 and appetite a distinct mental depression and a feeling of weakness were 

 experienced during the latter part of the starvation period. 



On partaking of food again the hunger and appetite sensations very 

 rapidly disappeared, and also practically all of the mental depression 

 and a great part of the feeling of weakness. Complete recovery from 

 the latter, however, did not take place until the second or third day 

 after breaking the fast. From this time on both men felt unusually 

 well; indeed they state that their sense of well-being and clearness of 

 mind and their sense of good health and vigor were as greatly improved 

 as they would have been by a month's vacation in the mountains. They 

 further point out that, since others who have starved for longer periods 



