A VILLAGE DOCTOR’S CLINIC 15 
nancy. Some of the best-known signs of pregnancy are 
enlargement of the thyroid, liver, spleen, and mammary 
glands. (5), (6), (7. 
2. If the body is complex in health, its pathological 
or disease processes cannot be other than complex. 
(7a) A delicate adjustment is disturbed and the whole 
organism suffers. The Apostle Paul (8) has put it 
very concisely: “And whether one member suffer, all 
the members suffer with it.”’ The endocrine glands are, 
of course, no exception to this rule. A statement from 
The Metabolist (9) puts the matter clearly: ‘Owing to 
the reciprocal relationship that exists between these 
glands, a functional disorder of them is, in the last 
analysis, always a pluriglandular disturbance—never a 
monoglandular malady.” Billings has also made a very 
similar statement: “Furthermore, it is universally 
recognized at present that the thyroid gland seems as 
one link of a chain of organs, and its aberration of 
function forms but a small fraction of the series of 
abnormal events occurring in all ductless glands.” 
TORT), C12). 
3. Itis also true that our complex modern life makes 
for complexity of disease. When our forefathers were 
subduing the wilderness, there was little chance for a 
variety of occupational diseases. In the days of the log 
cabin, there was no lead colic; before the days of the 
aeroplane, there was no “aviation medicine.” (13) 
Before the days of the bright lights, the days of excit- 
ing amusement and strenuous labor continued far into 
the hours normally dedicated to sleep, a neurotic pa- 
tient was a rarity. At present, our occupations and 
our diversions give rise to diseases unheard-of by our 
grandsires. 
4, If, then, disease is complex, is it not logical to 
infer that the treatment will often be far from simple? 
Curative medicine must meet a multitude of maladjust- 
ments. Modern therapy must assail these complex 
