1914.] CRILE— THE KINETIC SYSTEM. 2S5 



thus understand how either emotional strain or acute or chronic in- 

 fection may cause either exophthalmic goiter or cardiovascular 

 disease; how chronic intestinal stasis with the resultant absorption 

 of toxins may cause cardiovascular disease; neurasthenia or goiter. 

 Here is found an explanation of the phenomena of shock, whether 

 the shock be the result of toxins, of infection, of foreign proteins, of 

 anaphylaxis, of psychic stimuli, or of a surgical operation with its 

 combination of both psychical and traumatic elements. 



This conception of the kinetic system has stood a crucial test by 

 making possible the shockless surgical operation. It has offered a 

 plausible explanation of the cause and the treatment of Graves' 

 disease. Will this kinetic theory stand also the clinical test of con- 

 trolling that protean disease bred in the midst of the stress of our 

 present-day life? Present-day life, in which one must ever have 

 one hand on the sword and the other on the throttle, is a constant 

 stimulus of the kinetic system. The force of these kinetic stimuli 

 may be lessened at the cerebral link by intelligent control — a pro- 

 tective control is empirically attained by many of the most successful 

 men. The force of the kinetic stimuli may be broken at the thyroid 

 link by dividing the nerve supply, reducing the blood supply, or by 

 partial excision ; or if the suprarenals feel the strain, the stimulating 

 force may be broken by dividing their nerve supply, reducing the 

 blood supply, or by partial excision. No theory is worth more than 

 its yield in practice, but already we have the shockless operation, the 

 surgical treatment of Graves' disease, the control of shock and the 

 acute infection by overwhelming morphinization. 



Conclusions. 



To become adapted to their environment animals are trans- 

 formers of energy. This adaptation to environment is made by 

 means of a system of organs evolved for the purpose of converting 

 potential energy into heat and motion. The principal organs and 

 tissues of this system are the brain, the suprarenals, the thyroid, the 

 muscles and the liver. Each is a vital link — each plays its particular 

 role and one cannot compensate for the other. A change in any link 



