208 MAN AN ADAPTIVE MECHANISM 



Excision of any part of the stomach or of the intes- 

 tines is not followed by any change in energy trans- 

 formation. Excision of the testicles, the uterus or 

 the ovaries prevents the rhythmic changes in energy 

 transformation incident to procreation, but the power 

 of energy transformation for physical exertion or heat 

 production remains unaltered. Excision of one kidney 

 causes no notable change in energy transformation, 

 the damaging effect of excision of the kidneys being 

 due to the accumulation of the by-products of energy 

 transformation. In short, the excision or impairment 

 of no organ, excepting the brain, the adrenals and 

 the liver, causes an immediate and notable change in 

 the histology of the brain, the adrenals or the liver, 

 or in the power of the body as a whole to transform 

 energy, except where some specific process for which 

 one of these organs is directly responsible is concerned. 

 We conclude, therefore, that only the brain, the 

 thyroid, the adrenals, the liver and the muscles are 

 chiefly concerned in the transformation of energy. 



In this conception we find a possible explanation of 

 many normal and pathological conditions one which 

 possibly may point the way to new and more effec- 

 tive therapeutic measures. 



