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ESSENTMLS OF ZOOLOGY 



system, with other endocrine glands, and numerous processes of the 

 body, so that its true importance is difficult to estimate. Adrenalin 

 has been obtained from various animals for use in the treatment of 

 certain disorders, as an anesthesia in minor operations, and to stop 

 small hemorrhages. It has also been successfully employed in the 

 relief of asthma and similar troubles. 



A hormone known as cortin has been isolated from the suprarenal 

 cortex, and, while the removal of this portion of the adrenals results 

 in death, the exact functions of the hormone produced therein are 

 not entirely understood. It does relieve the condition known as 

 Addison's disease. There is, without doubt, a close relationship 

 between the cortex and sexual development; and some workers 

 believe that the cortex regulates the normal flow of blood, which 



Fig-. 58. — The suprarenal glands, N, against the anterior portion of the kidneys 

 and close to the diaphragm. (From Stiles, Human Physiology, W. B. Saunders 

 Company. ) 



would account for the fatal results of its removal. An extract has 

 been secured from the adrenal cortex of cattle in particular and is 

 used for the treatment of conditions resulting from malfunctioning 

 of the cortical portion of the adrenals in other organisms. Some 

 have shown cortin to have capacity for delaying the onset of scurvy 

 in vitamin C deficiency. 



After complete bilateral removal of the adrenal cortex, the fol- 

 lowing were the average survival periods for these several animals: 

 opossums, six days; guinea pigs, seven days; dogs, ten days; cats, 

 twelve days; while rabbits and rats may live on quite normally, 

 because of the presence of accessory inter-renal tissue. Symptoms 

 of insufficient cortin are loss of appetite with particular distaste for 

 fats, vomiting, diarrhea, muscular twitching, tetanic convulsions, 



