No. 560] INFLUENCE OF FASTING ON GROWTH 487 



posite effect of the activity of all its cells. The chief 

 reason for the revitalization of the organism is in the en- 

 hanced need of the cells for nourishment. The cells be- 

 come ''avaricious," if we may say so, and the increased 

 proportion of the nucleus in the cell organization may 

 perhaps in a measure be responsible for that. 



From all that has preceded the conclusion can be drawn 

 that periodic starvation is more detrimental to the organ- 

 ism than acute starvation followed by a liberal supply 

 of food. In the former case the individual remains below 

 the level of the normally fed animals ; in the latter case, 

 on the contrary, provided the inanition has not been 

 carried too far, the restorative process may go even be- 

 yond the limit attainable under normal conditions. From 

 the viewpoint of practical application this conclusion is 

 evidently of importance, suggesting to those who have 

 made the problem of social welfare their own the dangers 

 to the health and vigor of mankind which lurk in the more 

 commonly occurring underfeeding and chronic starva- 

 tion, especially of the young and growing generation. 



