430 INTERNAL SECRETIONS 



degree. Now if minimal quantities of sexual hormone are 

 sufficient for a normal erotization, it follows that the differences 

 which occur in regard to the erotization of the individual 

 cannot be really caused by a disfunction of the sex gland. 



So, besides cases of eunuchoidism with a primary or second- 

 ary suppression of the hormonic activity of the sex gland, there 

 may be recognized a second group in which the response by the 

 soma to sexual hormones is changed; in these cases variations 

 in the quantity of sexual hormones even far beyond the normal 

 threshold quantity might cause eunuchoidism, and especially 

 disturbances of erotization (Fig. 134). We must suppose that 

 in erotization also some other factor is involved besides hor- 

 mones. We must not forget that the psycho-sexual behaviour 

 depends very greatly upon the condition of the nervous system, 

 and only partly on the endocrine organs. 



Eunuchoidism in women is a question of great practical 

 importance. We find in these cases the following symptoms: 

 a disproportion of the body growth characteristic of the 

 "castrate," i.e., abnormally long extremities, in the gluteal 

 region and in the upper part of the abdominal wall less fat than 

 in the normal woman, a deficiency of hair in the regio pubis, an 

 underdevelopment of the breasts, and, finally, the symptoms- 

 which are of such great importance for the gynaecologist, the 

 abnormally small uterus and the irregularity or non-occurrence 

 of menstruation. 



There have been many controversies as to eunuchoidism in 

 women from a clinical point of view, as may be seen in 

 Aschner's book (1918, p. 169), where this question is examined 

 in great detail. But all authorities agree that the state of 

 "eunuchoidism" is connected with ovarian deficiency. The 

 ovaries are small and difficult to feel. The histological exami- 

 nation reveals an infantile condition, follicular development 

 not having taken place or being very incomplete. 



At first thought it might seem that the theory of eunuchoidism 

 in women can be formulated on quantitative lines without great 

 difficulty, as it is generally admitted that all the quantitative 

 variation in sexual development and sexual life in normal 

 women is due, to a certain degree to quantitative variation in 

 the endocrine function of the ovary. But there is in regard to 

 the dependence of the hormonic effect upon the quantity of 

 hormones such a striking difference between man and woman 



