UNDEKNUTRITION 25 



third of its body weight and still survive and recover; if more than one- 

 third of its weight is lost, the child almost invariably dies. As would 

 be expected, if the loss of weight is retarded by some means, the death will 

 be delayed ; thus thyroidectomized dogs have been found to live longer on 

 starvation than normal dogs (Marinesco and Parhon, 1909). 



Cause of Death 



The actual cause of death is still a matter of doubt, but very prob- 

 ably the cause is not always the same in different cases. Death may be 

 the result of general destruction of cellular life associated with the pre- 

 mortal rise of nitrogen in the urine and with the utilization of all the 

 body fat. But a more likely cause of death is that one of the vital organs 

 of the body fails, either from lack of nutrition or from intoxication 

 with poisons formed elsewhere, or from destruction of its tissue in course 

 of the general loss of body tissue. 



The ultimate result of fasting and undernutrition if continued will 

 be death ; but even after the appearance of the premortal rise of urinary 

 nitrogen, it can be staved off and health restored. On return to normal 

 food intake, apparently, there is seldom, if ever, any permanent injury to 

 the body. 



Breaking Fast 



Professional fasters have as a rule broken the fast with fruit juices 

 and excessive carbohydrate and low protein diets. It is rather doubt- 

 ful whether this is altogether desirable, for with the high carbohydrate 

 diet there is a tendency to fermentation and gas formation in the 

 intestines; this leads to intestinal griping and extreme colic, especially 

 where the faster has not had a bowel movement for a long time. TJiis was 

 the case with Levanzin, and the abdominal discomfort combined with the 

 mental strain of the fast were sufficient to cause him to become imbal- 

 anced mentally for a short while. On observing a breaking of fasts one 

 will notice that, once food is taken, the craving for it is very strong and 

 the tendency is to overeat. This must be guarded against to prevent gastro- 

 intestinal upsets. 



When much food is taken after^a fast, it is quite common to find sugar 

 in the urine ; this persists for only a day or two ; if the amount of carbohy- 

 drate in the diet is small, however, there will be no glycosuria. The physio- 

 logical explanation is probably the same as that of alimentary glycosuria 

 for when a large amount of carbohydrate is given to a man, especially a 

 child, accustomed to get but little, sugar usually appears in the urine. 



Probably the most satisfactory food to take after fasting is a small 



