384 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



with excessive sexual desire. However, after a period of hyper- 

 activity on the part of the pituitary, retrogressive changes set in 

 with that organ, and these are accompanied or followed by impotence 

 and atrophy in the reproductive organs. 1 



Tin- Pineal. Precocious sexual development associated with early 

 secondary sexual changes (growth of pubic hair, enlargement of larynx. 

 etc.) and general body growth is said to be correlated with hyperactivity 

 in the pineal gland, but the evidence is very incomplete. Moreover. 

 according to M'Cord 2 the administration of pineal extract to young 

 Mammals is reported to hasten growth and sexual maturity. When 

 iriviMi to unicellular animals (Paramcecium) the rate of reproduction 

 was markedly increased, and when fed to tadpoles, growth and 

 metamorphosis were hastened. On the other hand, according to Biach 

 and Hulles, 3 castration in kittens caused atrophy of the pineal, and 

 according to Foa 4 removal of the pineal in the young cockerel caused 

 sexual precocity and an earlier development of the secondary male 

 characters. 



Tin 1 Thyroid. It is well known that there is a correlation 

 letween the sexual organs and the thyroids. These glands undergo 

 enlargement during menstruation and pregnancy in women, and 

 Freund 5 has shown that similar changes occur during the heat 

 periods of many of the lower Mammals. He has pointed out further, 

 that swelling of the thyroid, at the time of puberty, often leads to 

 goitre, and that this disease commonly begins at a period of menstrua- 

 tion. M'Carrison 6 states that the sexual act and marriage in both 

 sexes increases the gland's activity and that the consequent swelling 

 is well known to primitive races. Arbuthnot Lane 7 also says that 

 swelling is associated with intercourse as well as with pregnancy, and 

 that it alters with the intensity of the' sexual appetite. Such facts 

 are cited by Gaskell 8 as evidence of a special connection between the 

 thyroid and the sexual organs the former being held to represent 

 the uterus of the scorpion. Alquier anil Thauveny 9 state that after 

 the partial or complete removal of the thyroids and parathyroids 



1 See also Woods Hutchinson, "The Pituitary Gland as a Factor in Acrome- 

 galy and Giantism," .\'eir Tor/- M<-d. Jour., 1900.' 



M'Cord, "The Pineal Gland," 8urg., <l</n. <n,d Ol>*tet., vol. xxv., 1917. 



:| Biach and Hulles, "Ueber die Beziehungen der Zurbeldriise zum Genitale," 

 II '//*. /////. MV-//., vol. xxv., 1912. 



4 Foa, " Hypertrophie des Testicules et de la Crete apres 1'Extirpation de 

 la <.lande Pineale chez le Coq," Arch. Ital. <!< /!i<>/., vol. Ivii., 1912. 



' Firund, "Die Beziehungen der Schilddriise zu den weiblichen Geschledits- 

 oriraiifii," /).>(./ Zw'tsch.f. Chir., vol. xviii., 1883. 

 M Carrison, The Th.,,r;d t;i,,,,,^ London, 1917. 



7 Lane, f ''ui/g Hospital Vazette, vol. xxxii., 1918. 



" Gaskell, The Origin of Vertebrates, London, 1908. 



Alquier and Thauveny, " Etat de 1'Ovaire de Chiennes avant 1'Extii pati< >n 

 ]rtielle ou totale de 1'Appareil Thyro-Parathyroidien," C. /{. \J<> la So.-. ,l e Viol., 

 vol. Ixvi., 1910. 



