772 THE ENDOCRINE ORGANS, OR DUCTLESS GLANDS 



selves. These symptoms are almost exactly opposite in character to those 

 observed in animals after removal of this portion of the gland. Thus, 

 the bones of the extremities become stimulated to increased growth, 

 so that if the patient is young, and the epiphyses therefore 

 not ossified, remarkable elongation of the long bones occurs, pro- 

 ducing the condition known as gigantism. On the other hand, if the dis- 

 ease does not develop until -after ossification is complete, its effects be- 

 come most marked in the bones of the face, the lower jaw becoming 



Fig. 200. Hand of a person affected with acrornegaly. 



enormously hypertrophied and the supraorbital ridges very prominent. 

 The long bones also become enlarged at their extremities, and there may 

 be some increase in length of the vertebral column, although the stature 

 does not increase because of kyphosis (curvature of the spine). The 

 condition is called acromegaly. Nutritive disturbances of the skin and 

 hairs also become marked, causing the skin to become dry and yellowish, 

 and the hairs to undergo abnormal increase over the body. An early 

 symptom of the condition is failure of the sexual power (Figs. 199 

 and 200.) 



