DISEASES PRODUCED BY STARVATION.
The effect of insufficient alimentation in the production of disease has long been recognized. It is understood that this result follows the deficiency in either quality or quantity. The so-called “famine fever,” prevalent in times of dearth, has afforded extensive opportunity for observation of the effects produced. The symptoms developed are those directly referable to impoverishment of the blood. Pallor, emaciation, nervous depression, derangement of the digestive organs, and muscular enfeeblement appear in every case.
The development of strumous, herpetic, and cutaneous diseases generally is marked.
Of the secondary effects, the cachectic condition induced expresses itself in pulmonary phthisis largely, while in infants and very young children intestinal disorders are specially frequent. Organic diseases already existing are seriously aggravated; wounds fail to heal, become ulcerative and sometimes gangrenous; while all degenerative processes are rapidly hastened to a fatal issue.[968]