ORGANOTHERAPY AND THE ADRENALS 167 
Each cell and each organ is then progressively less able 
to accomplish its usual work. The heart’s contraction 
is less forcible and its emptying less complete. There 
is an increase of H-ions in the general circulation with 
local areas of greater acidosis where the circulation is 
more sluggish, with the attendant aches and pains so 
often called “rheumatism.” The cause that first got the 
patient into this condition long since may have been 
removed, but the patient has never been able to rid him- 
self of the accumulation of metabolites that is keeping 
him where he is. 
Under these conditions, consistent support of the 
adrenals changes the whole picture. After only a com- 
paratively few doses the patient will say, “Yes, I feel 
better.” His heart beats more strongly, but not so 
fast; there is a better circulation of blood to and from 
every part. The nutrition to every cell and organ is 
better, the excretory products instead of stagnating, 
are being carreid away, and instead of a vicious circle, 
we have a beneficent cycle, in which the whole organ- 
ism profits. It is not the whole story, however, that a 
better circulation is established, important as that fac- 
tor is. The presence of a sufficient amount of the in- 
ternal secretion of the adrenals has a favorable influ- 
ence on metabolism, increases oxidation, and, therefore, 
of itself improves the quality of the blood as well as its 
distribution. 
It is doubtless this action and its property of increas- 
ing the immune reactions, as well as its circulatory ac- 
tion, that gives to adrenal extract its great value in 
pneumonia, tuberculosis, typhoid fever and all low 
asthenic states. 
Recently a patient came under observation with a 
history of pulmonary tuberculosis and pleural effusion 
some years ago. There had been no evidence of an 
active pulmonary process for several years. The white 
bleod count was 8.300; the red cells 5,470,000. The 
