EVERY-DAY ENDOCRINOLOGY 37 
manner. Some, again, are very optimistic in nature, 
others are very pessimistic, and so on. 
What is it, then, that accounts for all these differ- 
ences in individuals, who, according to the character of 
their external surroundings and mode of life, rather 
should make up one single type? 
It is logical to assume from the above observations, 
that the factor or factors responsible for the above- 
named variations must reside within each individual 
organism itself, and not outside of it. 
Now, which of the many structures making up the 
complex human organism logically may be held re- 
sponsible for the above-named variations or deviations 
from the normal in size, shape, general development, 
nervous disposition, temperament, and of many other 
attributes, mental and physical, of the human mind 
and body? 
The functions of the majority of the organs of our 
body are now fairly well known to us and understood; 
and, as far as we know and understand them, we have 
no reasonable ground to make them responsible for the 
above-mentioned differences or abnormalities. Besides, 
in every-day medicine not infrequently we encounter 
patients with complaints or symptoms referable to 
some certain mechanism of the body, whose function 
under normal conditions we well know, and the path- 
ology of which we can make out after it has progressed 
sufficiently to bring about the usual symptoms. Thus, 
tachycardia, arrhythmia, dyspnea, extreme nervous 
irritability are not infrequently the causes that bring 
patients under our observation; and, in spite of careful 
repeated examinations, we fail to find anything wrong 
with the organs, which are actually engaged in the 
processes of circulation, respiration, or mentality, so 
that we must exempt the respective organs from any 
direct responsibility for the above-mentioned abnormal 
phenomena. 
