"\ irilisme surrénal" is a modern term which was introduced in medicine 

 by the French scientist, Gallais, in 1914. 



It is a well-known fact that our knowledge of the functions of the 

 suprarenal gland dates back only two or three generations. The circum- 

 stances connected with the suprarenal capsule were first observed in Addison's 

 disease, and then in connection with adrenaline, and after 1905 it gradually 

 became known that the suprarenal capsule, under certain circumstances, 

 exerts an influence upon the organism, partly by affecting the growth of 

 the bod\-, partly by inducing a too early puberty, and partly bv changing 

 the secondary sexual characters to those of the opposite sex. It is to this 

 last side of the organ's function that Gallais has given the name of "viri- 

 lisme surrénal". The number of works on the subject is constantly in- 

 creasing. When the phenomena are developed in boys, they appear as a 

 precocious puberty, while in female subjects, in addition to a too earlv 

 sexual maturity, characters appear which belong to the male. Thus an 

 ordinary phenomenon of suprarenal virilism in the female is an abundart 

 growth of hair, not only on the face, but, as in the male, all over the 

 bod\\ In addition there are frequently also changes in the genitalia, which 

 give them a more or less masculine appearance. 



We now know that the cause of this virilising of the subject is gener- 

 ally a tumour on the suprarenal capsule, for in a number of cases the tumour 

 has been removed by an operation, after which the newly-acquired mascu- 

 line properties have once more disappeared. In Norwegian medical litera- 

 ture a good example of this is found in a case observed by Dr. Collett. 

 1 have found no mention of the condition in veterinary literature, and the 

 following account of my obser\'ations ma}- therefore be of some interest. 



M}' "patient" was an Italian hen, a white Leghorn, which, at its death, 

 was rather more than i'/'2 years old. It was sent to me last September 

 (1922I by a niece of mine in Sweden; but unfortunately, owing to various 

 circumstances, I had no opportunity of observing the bird while alive, and 

 can here only reproduce a photograph of it when stuffed. I have been 

 told, however, that from the age of 6 months the bird exhibited, in a 

 constantly increasing degree, peculiar habits, always keeping away from 



