Effects of Extirpation 123 



bable that the sexual precocity is associated with the development of this 

 interstitial tissue (see p. 135). The symptoms resemble those described as 

 the result of pineal removal, and have therefore been regarded as due to 

 hypopinealism. On the other hand, it has been found (Dane and Berkeley, 

 M'Cord) that the administration of pineal extract, both by feeding and by 

 subcutaneous injection, is also followed in young animals by precocious 

 sexual development, particularly but not exclusively in males. The rate of 

 body growth of the pineal-fed animals is also greater than that of the 

 controls. The addition of even a small amount of gland substance to the 

 food is said to be sufficient to produce a marked result. 



Another condition which has been sometimes observed to accompany 

 pineal tumours is unusual adiposity of a nature somewhat similar to that 

 accompanying hypopituitarism, although not, like that, associated with 

 deficient development of the sexual organs. It is suggested that this may 

 be caused by hyperpinealism. 



The accounts of the effect on the pineal of removal of the generative 

 glands have been conflicting. The experiments of Sarteschi on male 

 animals of several different species proved negative : whereas Biach and 

 Hulle described in cats, both male and female, the production of an 

 atrophied condition of the pineal. In connexion with this it may, however, 

 be mentioned that the pineal is often normally very small in the cat. 



It must be admitted that the results of clinical observations and experi- 

 mental work in animals are at present difficult to reconcile, and do not 

 enable us to come to any definite conclusion regarding the functions of 

 this organ and the nature and mode of action of its autacoids. 



