RELATIONS OF THE ORGANS TO ONE ANOTHER. 603 



the nature of such functions. It may be mentioned that large doses of 

 adrenalin produce glucosuria. It results from a glucohemia the cause of 

 which is still obscure. 



We may also mention that a disease is known to pathology which is 

 related to the suprarenal glands. It is named after its discoverer, being 

 known as Addison's disease. 1 The most important symptoms are as 

 follows: There is an external pigmentation upon the skin. The mucous 

 membrane also shows dark-colored patches, and there is a marked anaemia 

 and extreme asthenia. Great muscular weakness characterizes the whole 

 course of the disease. It is shown not alone in the inability of the muscles 

 to perform work, but by the fact that they quickly become tired. We 

 remember that these same symptoms were observed in animals with 

 ablated suprarenals. All of the other symptoms in Addison's disease are 

 of a secondary nature, and are due especially to the marked anaemia. A 

 post-mortem examination shows that the suprarenal bodies are more or 

 less destroyed by tumors, and usually as a result of tuberculosis. We must 

 not fail to mention, however, that cases of the disease are known, in which 

 the suprarenal capsules remain anatomically " normal." We have repeat- 

 edly laid stress upon the fact that the anatomical appearance of an organ 

 does not always indicate whether the organ is exerting its normal function 

 or not. Only when it has been found possible to show that the complex of 

 symptoms of Morbus Addisonii can exist without there being any change 

 in the functions of the suprarenal bodies, shall we be justified in questioning 

 the connection of the above-mentioned disease with the suprarenal bodies. 

 There has been a great deal of discussion as to the origin and significance 

 of the bronze-colored patches upon the skin. The nature of the deposited 

 pigment is not known. It is possible that it has some relation to the 

 formation of the secretion by the suprarenals, and that it may perhaps 

 represent an antecedent of adrenalin, which is deposited because in that 

 condition it is of no benefit to the system. On the other hand, we 

 must guard against putting the secretion of adrenalin too much in the 

 foreground, simply because it is the only secretion of the glands of which 

 we now know. It is pretty certain that the suprarenals have other func- 

 tions, and it is perfectly possible that when these functions disappear the 

 results are more serious than when the known secretion alone is wanting. 

 Our knowledge is still far too limited for us to attempt to discuss the 

 relations of the individual symptoms of the disease to the suprarenal 

 bodies. Above all, the cause of the extreme lassitude of the patients 

 remains unexplained. 



Another very important organ is the thyroid gland. Its functions were 

 investigated constantly for years, without its being possible to ascertain 



1 T. Addison : On the Constitutional and Local Effects of Disease of the Suprarenal 

 Capsules. London, 1855. 



