208 CORTEX 



to an effect other than the temporary reduction in the secretion 

 of the cortical hormone. Were the increased metabolism 

 attributable to cortical insufficiency, one would expect it to 

 occur some time after adrenalectomy as one of the first symp- 

 toms of failure of the hormone. The adrenals are supplied 

 with such a rich network of nerves that injury to these struc- 

 tures may perhaps reflexly cause the observed increase in 

 metabolic rate. 



Webster and his collaborators 663 found that the injection of 

 the adrenal cortical hormone into adrenalectomized cats re- 

 stored the respiratory metabolism to its normal value in from 

 24 to 48 hours. This restoration was also obtained in thy- 

 roidectomized animals. The injection of the adrenal cortical 

 hormone did not affect the oxygen consumption of normal cats 

 or rabbits but did cause an increase in metabolism in thyroid- 

 ectomized cats in most animals. Webster et alii concluded 

 that the adrenal cortical hormone can exert an influence on the 

 mechanism controlling the respiratory metabolism and that 

 this effect can occur independently of the thyroid gland. 



As regards the diminished respiratory metabolism in adrenal 

 insufficiency, it is unnecessary to assume that this implies any 

 direct control by the cortical hormone. So many of the organs 

 and tissues of the body in adrenal insufficiency are manifesting 

 a dysfunction that a decrease in their oxygen consumption 

 would be anticipated. Until further evidence to the contrary 

 is available, it suffices to attribute the reduced oxygen con- 

 sumption and heat production to the general morbid state of 

 the animal in adrenal insufficiency. It is unnecessary to 

 assume any more fundamental control of the metabolism by 

 the adrenal cortex. 



As stated in Chapter VII the requirements of the organism 

 for the cortical hormone are determined by the general metab- 

 olism. This does not, however, indicate any direct control of 

 the metabolic rate by the hormone, for with increased activity 

 one might expect the tissues to require a proportionately 

 larger amount of any hormone vital to their normal function. 



