356 SECRETION. 



characteristic constitutional symptoms. 1 There are twenty- 

 two cases cited of cancer of the suprarenal capsules, not one 

 of which presented the characteristic constitutional symp- 

 toms, seven only presenting some slight discoloration of the 

 skin. 8 



Without discussing this subject more fully, it seems justi- 

 fiable to adopt the opinion, entertained by many pathologists, 

 that there is a connection between bronzed skin accompa- 

 nied with certain grave constitutional symptoms, and disor- 

 ganization of the suprarenal capsules, which is frequent but 

 not invariable ; but it is not established that the destruction 

 of the capsules stands in a causative relation to the discolor- 

 ation or to the constitutional disturbance. It is more interest- 

 ing to us, however, to know that the investigations into these 

 diseased conditions have developed little or nothing of impor- 

 tance concerning the physiology of the suprarenal capsules. 



Extirpation of the Suprarenal Capsules. There are two 

 important questions to be settled by the removal of the supra- 

 renal capsules from living animals. The first is, whether or 

 not these organs are essential to life ; and the second is, to 

 determine the consequences of their removal, as exhibited in 

 modifications of the animal functions. The first experi- 

 ments on this subject, by Dr. Brown-Sequard, seemed to 

 show, not only that the suprarenal capsules are essential 

 to life, but that they have an important function connected 

 with the development of pigment. These experiments were 

 in a measure complementary to the pathological observations 

 by Dr. Addison. 



Are the suprarenal capsules essential to life ? This ques- 

 tion can be answered in a very few words. Dr. Brown- 

 Sequard, 8 in his first experiments, removed one and both 



1 Op. tit., p. 49. * Op. tit., p. 50. 



3 BROWN-SEQUARD, Recherches experimentales sur la physiologie et la pathologic 

 des corps sv,rrenales. Archives generales de medetine, Paris, 1856, 5me s6rie, 

 tome viii., pp. 385, 572. 



