SPHYGMOMANOMETER AND ENDOCRINES 139 
blood pressure rises, elimination is increased, and a 
condition of greater vigor is recognized. 
In times past, when it was observed that the system 
was being overwhelmed by toxemia, there would be 
begun what in medical parlance we call “stimulation,” 
and strychnia, digitalis and other heart-whips would 
be applied; now as we shall see, we investigate the 
adrenal aspects of the case and spare and encourage 
these little glands when necessary. 
Purgation at the outset of most infections is rational 
therapeusis, as it is an attempt to use outside agents 
to eliminate poisons from the system. But purgation 
must not be kept up indefinitely; and, furthermore, it 
accomplishes only a part of the work of elimination. 
The kidneys, skin, and lungs each must do their part 
and unless the blood pressure is up to normal and each 
organ given the requisite amount of blood, their full 
quota of work cannot be accomplished. 
Many discoveries have been the result of accident, a 
mere stumbling onto something useful without any 
directing force along the path. On the other hand, 
many discoveries are the result of hard study and 
research. It has been the experience of a large part of 
the profession today, that our lecturers on physiology, 
not so very Many years ago, coming in their discussions 
to the subjects of the thyroid, thymus, spleen, or adre- 
nal glands, would generally, after a brief anatomical 
description, dismiss the subject with the remark, “One 
of the ductless glands; function unknown.” 
The work done on the hormone-producing organs and 
the knowledge regarding them that has been gained 
as a result of much effort by many workers within the 
past score of years is vast, both in quantity and value. 
These discoveries must be classed with all the great 
discoveries of physiology, and are of even greater im- 
portance to medicine than some things that we for- 
merly considered of first importance. This is because of 
