CHANGES IN THE MATERNAL ORGANISM 523 



remnant of the gland, which is sufficient to maintain health in 

 the non-pregnant state, is insufficient after the onset of preg- 

 nancy (Lange *). 



An increased suprarenal secretion in pregnancy has also been_ 

 suggested, the effect of which on the blood pressure is normally 

 balanced by the increased thyroid secretion (Nicholson 2 ). But 

 experimental evidence seems to show that the blood-pressure 

 raising action of the suprarenals is entirely independent of the 

 thyroid gland (Pick and Pineles 3 ). 



d. The Skin. The cause of the increased pigmentation of 

 the skin in pregnancy is little understood. It has been looked 

 on as a simple deposit of pigment, as the result of infection with 

 the microsporon furfur, the cause of pityriasis versicolor which 

 not infrequently attacks pregnant women, and as a subcutaneous 

 haemorrhage. 4 Jeannin 5 first suggested that it was derived 

 from haemoglobin set free by the solution of red blood corpuscles. 

 According to Veit 6 the haemolysis may be produced by the 

 circulation of syncytial elements in the blood. The presence of 

 iron in the pigment, though strongly denied by Truzzi, 7 has 

 recently been demonstrated by Wychgel. 8 He associates its 

 presence with the frequent occurrence of haemoglobinuria in 

 pregnancy. V. Fiirth and Schneider's suggestion that the 

 pigment is derived from tyrosin by the action of a placental 

 tyrosinase is mentioned elsewhere (Chap. X., p. 481). 



An abnormal development of the hair of the face and body 



1 Lange, "Die Beziehungen der Schilddriise zur Schwangerschaft," 

 Zeitschr.f. Geburtsh. u. Gynak., vol. xl., 1899. 



2 Nicholson, " Physiological Changes in the Maternal Organism during 

 Pregnancy," Trans. Obstet. Soc. Edinburgh, vol. xxxi., 1905-6. 



3 Pick and Pineles, " Beziehung der Schilddriise zur physiol. Wirkung 

 des Adrenalins," Biochem. Zeitschr., vol. xii., 1908. 



4 See v. Winckel's Handbuch der Geburtshiilfe, vol. i. H. 1. 



5 Jeannin, "Observations pour servir k 1'histoire du masque des femmes 

 enceintes," Gaz. Hebdom., 1868. 



6 Veit and Scholten, " Synzytiolyse und Hamolyse," Zeitschr. f. Geburtsh. 

 u. Gynak., vol. xlix., 1903. 



7 Truzzi, " Ueber die Genese der Hyperchromie der Haut in der Gravi- 

 ditat," Monatsschr. f. Geburtsh., vol. xi., 1898. 



8 Wychgel, " Untersuchungen iiber das Pigment der Haut und den Urin 

 wahrend der Schwangerschaft," Zeitschr. f. Geburtsh. u. Gyntik., vol. xlvii. 



