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however, that it is not the normal relation in mammals. This dis- 
congruency can only have been brought about by a retardation of 
the somatic development, not by an acceleration of the development 
of the genital glands, as this would be absolutely useless. But with 
this retardation of the rate of the somatic development the function 
of the genital glands had of necessity to be suppressed so long, till 
the body was sufficiently developed to be able to pass through the 
whole physiological process which follows a conception. So I see 
here again the activity of two influences: retardation in the develop- 
mental rate of the body as a whole, and temporary suppression 
of the function of the genital glands. 
Here also I touched but slightly on my line of thought, to 
conclude with the question: have we to do in this case also, with 
the influence of an endocrine organ? The clinical observations gives 
us again the answer to this, and refers us to those, happily rare, but 
sad cases of so-called premature sexual development. Children in 
whom puberty begins at the age of four or five, girls, as cases are 
known, who conceive at the age of seven or eight. 
How are these abnormal conditions to be explained? In my opinion 
here also the solution of the problem is to be sought in the removal 
of the retardative influence on the developmental rate of the sexual 
development, which, as appears from what was said above, exists 
in man. And like all those mentioned before, this retardative 
influence also originates with an endocrine organ, for, as is proved 
conclusively by autopsy, this premature sexual development is the 
result of a degeneration of the pineal gland. With this I wish to 
conclude my exposition. The abundance of matter has compelled 
me to give my contribution in as succinct a form as possible. That 
the subject-matter is not exhausted with what is here discussed, 
will be clear to anybody more or less expert. For the perspectives 
here opened up go in two directions. In the first place they give 
to the physician a wider view of the character of the conditions 
observed by him, and to the physiologist they submit the question 
to examine whether in the province of metabolic phenomena, with 
affection of the endocrine organs, he can make observations which 
are parallel to the morphological consequences of these affections. 
Personally I am more attracted by the second direction in which 
the facts point. That is the general biological one. In the exposition 
given it has been shown that the endocrine organs influence the 
coming about of the evolutional development of a higher organism, 
it is therefore, in my opinion, no longer to be denied, that internal 
factors play a part in evolution. 
