CH. XXV.] 



THE SUPRARENAL CAPSULES 



341 



masses of multinucleated protoplasm (fig. 282), numerous blood-vessels 

 (sinusoids, see p. 222), and an abundance of nerve-fibres and cells. 



The cells of the medulla are characterised by the presence of 

 certain reducing substances. One of these takes a brown stain with 

 chromic acid, and gives other colour reactions ; it is, therefore, called 

 a chromogen. Another is similar in many of its characters to jecorin, 

 a lecithin-like substance united to glucose also found in the liver, 

 spleen, and other organs. 



The immense importance of the suprarenal bodies was first in- 

 dicated by Addison, who, in 1855, pointed out that the disease now 

 known by his name is associated with pathological alterations of these 



iteipwii^ : v, 



lilffp^ 



' v ~ v : 'V' Ws^iMww&m -/V'^y^--V?---'-'' : . ;r .\ /.''* 

 ^- / .'> *$..."..">: ". .V-v.-..-..-, Vv^iui; 





/: ' ; 



FIG. 282. Section through a portion of the medullary part of the suprarenal of guinea-pig. The 

 vessels are very numerous, and the fibrous stroma more distinct than in the cortex, and is, more- 

 over, reticulated. The cells are irregular and larger, clear, and free from oil globules. (S. K. 

 Alcock.) 



glands. This was tested experimentally by Brown-Sequard, who 

 found a few years later that removal of the suprarenals in animals is 

 invariably and rapidly fatal. The symptoms are practically the 

 same (although more acute) as those of Addison's disease, namely, 

 great muscular weakness, loss of vascular tone, and nervous prostra- 

 tion. The pigmentation (bronzing) of the skin, however, which is a 

 marked symptom in Addison's disease, is not seen in animals. The 

 experiments of Brown-Sequard attracted much attention at the time 

 they were performed, but were almost forgotten for many years, 

 until they were confirmed by Abelous, Langlois, Schafer, and others. 

 The effects on the muscular system are the most marked results both 

 after removal of the capsules and after injection of an extract of the 

 glands. The effect of injecting such an extract on the voluntary 

 muscles is to increase their tone, so that a tracing obtained from them 

 resembles that produced by a small dose of veratrine, namely, a pro- 



