492 INTERNAL SECRETIONS 



regeneration may take place under the influence of sex hor- 

 mones, the effects lasting for some time. According to Ruzicka 

 (1922), who examined the experimental animals of Steinach, 

 the tissues of ligatured rats show some change even in their 

 state of aggregation in the direction of being rejuvenated. But 

 it would evidently be better not to speak of a rejuvenation, but 

 of a regeneration, as Sand does, since as yet we have no certain 

 data concerning the changes induced in the organism in the 

 above-mentioned experiments. The first functions to be affected 

 in the rejuvenation process are apparently those which 

 depend upon sex hormones. Loewy and Zondek (1921) stated 

 that the output of COg in old men increases after ligature of the 

 vasa deferentia, at any rate temporarily. The increase may be 

 17 to 30 per cent. ; this corresponds to the difference between 

 a normal and a castrated individual. But I should like to 

 point out that a similar statement does not imply that normally 

 senility depends on a disfunction of the sex gland. On the 

 other hand, it cannot be denied that the impression produced 

 is that the operation leads to a general regeneration besides 

 re-erotization. The statements of Steinach and Peter Schmidt 

 to the effect that there is a new growth of hair after the 

 operation is evidence of this. 



The question has also been heatedly discussed as to whether 

 the effect of ligaturing the vasa deferentia is caused by an 

 intensified hormone-production of the interstitial cells, as 

 Steinach supposes, or by a resorption of the products of de- 

 composition of the seminal cells, as has been claimed by several 

 authors. This question also is not without some interest 

 from the standpoint of practical medicine. Kohn (1921), who 

 is of the opinion that the beneficial effects of the ligature are 

 due to resorption of substances derived from the generative 

 cells, remarks that it may be necessary to return to the older 

 method of Brown-Sequard, who injected testicular extracts. 

 Heterotransplantation, and even homoiotransplantation, if the 

 graft does not "take," may often act merely by resorption. 



It is still difficult to understand why the discussion upon the 

 seat of production of the sex hormone became so heated, 

 especially in Germany. "Unfortunately," as Sand says 

 (1922 b), "the discussion reveals a certain tendency; certain 

 publications, showing evidence of complete misunderstanding 

 and full of false quotations, are without any scientific value. 



