PREFACE 



THE stream of reports on the functions and interrela- 

 tionships of the pituitary body now flows at the rate 

 of approximately 750 articles yearly. Since 1934 re- 

 search has been especially active; while new and useful con- 

 tributions are much less numerous than the volume of data 

 offered would lead one to expect, nevertheless, notable ad- 

 vances have been made in clarifying certain aspects of the 

 complex functions of this organ. In this respect, several fields 

 deserve particular mention — i.e., the physiological signifi- 

 cance of the pars neuralis, the importance of the anterior 

 pituitary in carbohydrate metabolism, the physiology of the 

 breasts in relation to the anterior pituitary, and the correla- 

 tion of anatomical changes in the gland with alterations of 

 function and morphology elsewhere in the body. The great 

 interest shown in the gonadotropic hormones appears not to 

 have led to a commensurate return. Investigation of the thy- 

 rotropic hormone probably has been least fruitful recently. 

 In the present volume I have undertaken to meet the need 

 of sifting and classifying the new data and concepts and of 

 modifying the old by endeavoring critically to review recent 

 work on the physiology and pharmacology of the pituitary 

 body. A brief summary of my opinion of the present state of 

 our knowledge has been added to each chapter. The first 

 volume included part of the reports of 1935; the present 

 volume is believed to include references to all important ex- 

 perimental work published during the remainder of 1935 and 

 during the years 1936 and 1937. In addition, some reports of 

 1938 are reviewed. The Bibliography (1,418 titles) represents 

 78 per cent of the articles which were considered. 



I wish here to record my thanks to a number of colleagues 

 who have given me the benefit of expert and critical advice. 



