242 CORTEX 



had a solid content of 2.5 milligrams per cubic centimeter, ex- 

 clusive of the added salt. 



EFFICACY OF THE ADRENAL CORTICAL HORMONE 



The efficacy of the preparations of the adrenal cortical hor- 

 mone described in the preceding sections has been demon- 

 strated by the fact that they offer a complete replacement 

 therapy in adrenalectomized mice, rats, cats, and dogs. When 

 these animals are maintained on adequate doses of the hormone 

 they survive the effects of a complete adrenalectomy and mani- 

 fest no signs of any deficiency. Since the purified extracts 

 maintain all the normal physiological functions of such animals, 

 it is unnecessary to assume, as some have done, that the ad- 

 renal elaborates several hormones, the combination of which 

 must be administered to maintain normal behavior in the 

 absence of the adrenals. Nor is it necessary to administer 

 with the extracts an excess of salt over that normally present 

 in the animal's food. Until definite evidence to the contrary 

 is brought forward, there is no reason, therefore, to hypothe- 

 cate that the adrenal cortex produces more than one hormone. 

 The published evidence which purports to demonstrate a 

 multiplicity of hormones is not convincing and is probably 

 due to poor experimental data and the use of impure and im- 

 potent extracts. 



In Figure 13 are reproduced typical growth curves of rats 

 treated for 60 days following complete adrenalectomy with 

 the charcoal-hormone combination. The animals grew nor- 

 mally to their adult size and manifested all the signs of perfect 

 health and normal physiological function. The charcoal- 

 hormone preparation is thus capable of supplying a complete 

 replacement therapy for the adrenal cortex. After cessation 

 of the treatment the animals of Figure 13 died within one to 

 two weeks and careful examination of microscopic sections of 

 the adrenal sites revealed no remnant of active or exhausted 

 cortical tissues. 



