HUNGER AND THERST. 17 



system has been badly nourished from any cause, as after 

 prolonged abstinence, or in recovery from an exhausting dis- 

 ease, hunger is generally pressing and almost constant ; and 

 this continues until the organism has regained its normal con- 

 dition. Under these circumstances, the ingestion of food, 

 even in unusually large quantity, has but a momentary 

 eifect in appeasing the appetite ; showing that though the 

 feeling of satiety which follows the introduction of a suf- 

 ficient quantity of food into the stomach is experienced, the 

 system still feels the want of nourishment, and this want is 

 expressed by an almost immediate recurrence of the appe- 

 tite. 



In some of the low^er animals, extirpation of the spleen 

 has been observed to be followed by a marked increase in 

 the appetite ; 1 but this effect is by no means constant, and 

 it sometimes follows removal of one kidney, an operation 

 which does not appear to interfere with any of the physiolo- 

 gical processes. 



If food be not taken in obedience to the demands of the 

 system as expressed by the appetite, the sensation of hunger 

 becomes most distressing. It is then manifested by a pecu- 

 liar and indescribable sensation in the stomach, which soon 

 becomes developed into actual pain. This is generally ac- 

 companied by intense pain in the head and a feeling of 

 general distress, which soon render the satisfaction of this 

 imperative demand on the part of the system the absorbing 



1 The following observation showed a very remarkable increase in the appe- 

 tite consequent upon the removal 0f the spleen. 



Feb. II, 1861. The spleen had been removed from a young dog, the subject 

 of this operation, about six weeks before. The animal recovered from the opera- 

 tion without a bad symptom, and is perfectly well, sleek, and fat, weighing 

 twenty-two pounds. Since the operation, the disposition has become ferocious, 

 so that it is dangerous to come near him. The appetite is insatiable, and he 

 will eat even the refuse from the dissecting-room. 



The dog was brought before the class at the New Orleans School of Medicine 

 at two P. M., and ate a little more than four pounds of beef-heart, or nearly one- 

 fifth of his weight. He had been fed abundantly about twenty-four hours be- 

 fore. 



2 



