THE KINETIC SYSTEM 207 



After excision of both adrenals, there is a rapid decline 

 in the power of the body to transform energy, accom- 

 panied by progressive histologic changes in the brain- 

 cells and followed by death. Animals whose adrenals 

 have been excised behave as if at the time of exci- 

 sion the body contained a certain amount of adrenin 

 and as if death followed naturally when this amount 

 had been utilized. After excision of the liver there is, 

 until death, an immediate and progressive loss in the 

 ability of the organism to transform energy, accom- 

 panied by marked and widespread histologic changes in 

 the brain-cells. It would appear that the activity of 

 the liver produces in the body a certain margin of 

 safety by which the body is protected against acidosis 

 for a brief time after the liver has been excised, death 

 occurring when this margin is passed. 



The excision of no other organ in the body interferes 

 with energy transformation as does the excision of 

 the brain, the adrenals or the liver. Excision of the 

 hypophysis causes diminished muscular power and a 

 subnormal temperature, but a far more gradual de- 

 cline in energy transformation, since an animal so 

 treated may live for several days or weeks. Excision 

 of the thyroid causes diminished muscular power and 

 heat production in most animals. Excision of the 

 parathyroids may occasion clonic spasms, indicating 

 excessive energy transformation. Neither excision of 

 the thymus nor splenectomy is attended by any 

 notable alteration in energy transformation. Excision 

 of the pancreas leaves protein metabolism undisturbed 

 but interferes with sugar metabolism, to that extent 

 only interfering with energy transformation. 



