590 GENERAL METABOLISM [CH. XXXIX. 



The discharge of nitrogen per kilo, of body-weight was reduced 



C 

 to O'l, -^r being 2 3 '5. In carnivorous animals, in prolonged 



C 

 inanition, the discharge of nitrogen per kilo, is 0'9 and ^r = 6 '6. 



During starvation the man or animal gradually loses weight ; the 

 temperature, after a preliminary rise, sinks ; the functions get weaker 

 by degrees, and ultimately, when death ensues, the total weight lost 

 varies from 0'3 to 0'5 of the original body- weight. 



The age of the animal influences the time at which death occurs, 

 old animals withstanding the effects of hunger better than young 

 ones. This statement was originally made by Hippocrates, and was 

 borne out by the experiments of Martigny and Chossat. Young 

 animals lose weight more quickly, and die after a smaller loss of 

 weight, than old ones. 



The excretion of nitrogen falls quickly at the commencement of 

 starvation; it reaches a minimum which remains constant for 

 several days ; it then rises when the fat of the animal has been used 

 up, and then quickly falls with the onset of symptoms of approach- 

 ing death. 



The sulphates and phosphates in the urine show approximately 

 the same series of changes. 



The discharge of carbonic acid and the intake of oxygen fall, but 

 not so quickly as the body loses weight ; it is not until quite the last 

 stages that these are small in proportion to one another. 



The faeces become smaller and smaller in quantity until no dis- 

 charge from the rectum occurs at all. 



The amount of bile secreted also falls ; but bile is found in the 

 gall-bladder and intestine after death. 



Taking the total loss of weight as 100, the loss due to that of in- 

 dividual organs may be stated as follows (Yoit) : 



Bone. . . 5'4 



Muscle . .42-2 



Liver. . .4-8 



Kidneys . .0-6 



Pancreas . . O'l i Brain and cord . O'l 



Lungs . .0'3 Skin and hair . 8*8 



Heart . . O'O Fat . . . 26'2 



Testes . .O'l Blood . .37 



Spleen . . 0'6 I Intestines. . 2'0 Other parts . 5'0 

 Some organs, such as heart and brain, thus lose but little weight ; 

 the loss of weight is greatest in the muscles, fat, skin, liver, and 

 blood. Of the muscles, the great pectoral muscles waste most. 

 Death may be delayed somewhat by artificial warmth, but ultimately 

 occurs from asthenia, sometimes accompanied by convulsions. 



Exchange of Material with various Diets. 



The reasons why a mixed diet is necessary have been already explained (Chap. 

 XXVIII. ). Numerous experiments have, however, been made in the study of 

 metabolism on abnormal diets. 



Feeding with meal. As the chief solid in meat is proteid, one must take either 



