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METABOLISM IN STARVATION. 897
but it depends more likely upon the disturbance in the nutrition of a few
less vitally important organs (E. Voit 1
).
In calculating or determining the loss of weight of the organs in
starvation the original fat content of the organs must be considered.
With the consideration of the fat content of the organs, determined or
estimated in a special way before the starvation period and at the end,
E. Voit 2
found the following loss of weight in the supposed fat-free
organs in starvation, namely, muscles 41 per cent, viscera 42 per cent,
skin 28 per cent, and skeleton 5 per cent.
The quantity of urine nitrogen sinks in starvation corresponding to
the protein catabolism, but to a varying degree in different individuals.
The lowest value observed thus far in man was 2.82 grams per diem as
found by E. and 0. Freund on the twenty-first day in the faster Succi.
Calculated on 1 kilogram of body weight, the urine nitrogen, as is to be
expected, shows striking differences in different persons; in Cetti and
Succi it was 0.150-0.200 gram on the fifth to tenth day of starvation.
The division of the nitrogen in the urine in starvation is unl’.ke that in
the normal condition. The relative amount cf urea diminishes, as
shown by E. and (). Freund, Brugsch and Cathcart,3
so that instead
of being about 85 per cent of the total nitrogen under normal conditions
it can sink to 54 per cent (Brugsch). At the same time because of the
abundant formation of acetone bodies (starvation acidosis) the quantity
of ammonia increases considerably (Brugsch, Cathcart). A relative
increase in the neutral sulphur of the urine also takes place (Benedict,
Cathcart 4
). Creatine also occurs in starvation urine and according
to Hawk 5
and co-workers the elimination of creatine is much greater than
the creatinine a few days before the premortal nitrogen elimination.
One must differentiate between the real starvation metabolism and the
metabolism in the inanition condition, the basal requirement (Magnus-
Levy) or the maintenance value (Loewy 6
). With this we understand the
metabolism in uniform, medium temperature, with absolute bodily rest
and inactivity of the intestinal canal. As a measure of this we deter-
mine the gas exchange in a person lying down with as perfect com-
plete muscular rest as possible, or sleeping in the early morning and
at least twelve hours after a light meal not rich in carbohydrates. This
1
Zeitschr. f. Biologie, 41.
2
Ibid., 46.
J
E. and O. Freund, Wien. klin. Rundschau, 1901, Nos. 5 and G; Brugsch, Zeitschr.
f. exp. Path. u. Therap., 1 and 3; Cathcart, Bioch. Zeitschr., 6.
4
Zeitschr. f. klin. Med., 36; Cathcart, 1. c.
5
Journ. of biol. Chem., 11.
6
Magnus-Levy in v. Noorden’s Handbuch, and Loewy in Oppenheimer’s Handbuch
d. Biochemie, Bd. 4.
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