THE KINETIC SYSTEM 193 



readily. This clinical observation is in striking accord 

 with observations made in the author's laboratory, 

 in which the effect of fear on normal rabbits was 

 compared with its effect upon rabbits whose thyroid 

 glands had been previously removed. While in the 

 normal rabbits fright caused a rise in temperature of 

 from one to three degrees, the rabbits whose thyroids 

 had been removed before the activation made but 

 slight febrile response. Myxcedema subjects show a 

 loss of physical and mental power proportional to 

 the lack of thyroid efficiency. (Fig. 42.) 



Effects upon Energy Transformation of Increased Activity 

 of the Several Links of the Kinetic System 



In striking contrast to the dullness and torpidity 

 of the myxcedema patient, suffering from depressed 

 thyroid activity, is the supreme excitability and exqui- 

 site sensitiveness of the victim of the hyperactive 

 thyroid in Graves' disease, or exophthalmic goiter. 

 Here the conditions are exactly reversed. Instead of a 

 sluggish and colorless existence the response to every 

 type of stimulus is exaggerated. The patient having 

 acute Graves' disease responds to toxins, infection, pain 

 or emotional activation by a volcanic transformation 

 of energy that is unequaled in the phenomena of any 

 other known normal or abnormal state. 



In the patient with Graves' disease there is a con- 

 tinuous state of exalted consciousness ; a tendency to 

 start at the slightest sound, to scream at the slightest 

 pain. The response to contact or chemical stimuli is 

 equally intensified. The heightened activity is seen 



