298 THE PINEAL ORGAN 



which the developing organ has to a compound racemose gland with a 

 secretory duct opening into the ventricular system, does not bear out 

 the expectation which might be anticipated from its embryonic history. 

 Degenerative changes seem to occur soon after the obliteration of the 

 lumen of the duct, and it thus neither resembles an ordinary racemose 

 gland nor does it truly resemble a ductless gland such as the thyroid, 

 which gland continues to develop and shows signs of secretory activity 

 after the follicles have been cut off from the parent stem. 



