2 ALIMENTATION. 



I 



normal condition." 1 Though inanition is a pathological 

 condition, it represents physiological waste of the organ- 

 ism without the supply of material from without by which 

 the tissues are regenerated. The phenomena which accom- 

 pany complete deprivation of nutritive material are likewise 

 present, in a degree, in insufficient alimentation. The termi- 

 nation is the same, and occurs when the system has been 

 reduced to the same condition as when death occurs from 

 absolute innutrition ; the only difference being in the inten- 

 sity and duration of the phenomena which precede the fatal 

 result. If aliment be insufficient in quantity, improper in 

 quality, or if the process of digestion and assimilation be so 

 far interfered with as to prevent the normal regeneration of 

 the blood, and through the blood, of the tissues, death takes 

 place from inanition, with phenomena identical with those 

 which occur in animals entirely deprived of food. The vital 

 properties of the tissues demand that material, of the proper 

 constitution and in adequate quantity, be introduced from 

 without. A deficiency in quantity or in quality, within 

 certain limits, is met by a diminished capacity on the part 

 of the system for that exercise, both mental and physical, 

 which increases waste ; and consequently, the general condi- 

 tion of the organism is lowered, to enable it to adapt itself to 

 the diminished supply. Nature can generally dispose of an 

 excess of nutritive material, but cannot make up a deficiency. 

 If, however, the quantity or quality of food be reduced be- 

 low a certain point, the waste must become greater than the 

 supply, and death takes place from inanition, more slowly, 

 but no less certainly, than when the nutritive supply is cut 

 off altogether. 



Observations on the inferior animals, and the human 

 subject on those occasions which have presented themselves 

 in shipwreck, times of famine, etc., have led to a tolerably 



1 CHOSSAT, Recherches Experimentales sur V Inanition, Paris, 1843, p. 194. 

 The term inanitialion is used by Chossat to express the progressive conditior 

 which results in inanition. 



