162 COETEX 



Some of these symptoms (e.g., the elevated temperature, thirst, 

 and restlessness) are probably due to operative shock and are 

 not observed in animals surviving for longer periods except 

 for the first day following operation. 



In completely adrenalectomized animals, after recovery from 

 the anesthetic, one notes no obvious abnormal manifestations. 

 The animals are alert, eat and drink, and are apparently 

 in perfect condition. The blood pressure is normal; the 

 constituents of the blood undergo no noteworthy change. 

 Gradually, however, symptoms of insufficiency supervene. 

 The animal becomes apathetic, refuses food, and may vomit. 

 Muscular movements become slow and uncertain. Weakness 

 of the hind legs develops which may cause the animal's gait 

 to become unsteady. Eventually the animal lies prostrate. 

 As insufficiency progresses, the body temperature falls in 

 warm-blooded animals. The skin becomes cold; the mucosae 

 turn pale. Pus may appear in the eyes and the pupils become 

 dilated. Muscular twitches and convulsions may occur. The 

 respiration is first rapid, then slow. There may be anuria. 

 Death occurs in coma, with respiratory paralysis while the 

 heart is still beating. 



The delay in the appearance of the symptoms of insufficiency 

 following adrenalectomy may be attributed to two factors: 1, 

 A store of the vital cortical hormone may be present in the 

 body and it is only after the exhaustion of this store that dis- 

 ability ensues; 2, The tissues are able to function normally for 

 a time without the hormone. Extraction of various tissues, 

 such as liver, pituitary, corpora lutea, etc. demonstrates the 

 presence of small amounts of a substance capable of maintain- 

 ing life in the adrenalectomized animal. It is likely therefore 

 that a store of the hormone is left in the organism after adrenal- 

 ectomy. The effect of adverse physical conditions, toxins, 

 trauma, etc. in precipitating an adrenalectomized animal into 

 insufficiency indicates, however, that the second of the above 

 listed possibilities is also a factor in explaining the survival of 

 animals in good health for some time after adrenalectomy. 



