Kxperimental ( )perutions on tlie rituitiiry 121 



1. Complete extirpation of tlie pituitury caused deatli in u .short time. 



2. Partial removal of the pans anterior caused no .symptom other than 



afliposity. 



3. Exten.sive or complete destruction (thermo-cautery) of the pars 



anterior resulted in death. 



4. Renii:)val of tiie pars posterior cau.sed no .symptom. 



5. Separation of the stalk resulted in the death of the animal. 



(). Separation of the pituitary from its bed in the .sella turcica pro- 

 duced no symptom. 



Gushing and his fellow-workers, as the result of two .series of careful 

 experiments, in which they adopted the techni(|ue introduced by Paulesco 

 with slight improvements, obtained results very similar to his. Indeed, 

 the only differences noted were in regard to partial removal of the pars 

 anterior and to separation of the stalk. 



Gushing and his colleagues found tliat separation of the stalk produce<l 

 tlie same effects as total removal with immediate transplantation. They 

 also believed that the adiposity which occurred in their animals after partial 

 removal of the pars anterior was specific; that is to say, while Paulesco 

 had observed that the animals might become fat. Gushing and his col- 

 leagues were the tirst to recognise the importance of this adiposity, and 

 to note that it was identical with the pathological condition previously 

 known as dystrophia adiposo-genitalis, since there was also genital 

 atrophy. Further, these investigators found that in young animals per- 

 sistent infantilism occurred after partial removal of the pars anterior.^ 



Gushing also made the striking discovery in regard to this condition 

 that the subnormal temperature always found with dystrophia adiposo- 

 genitalis can be raised by injections of an extract made from the pars 

 anterior. This he called the "thermic reaction." On the other hand, 

 according to the same authority (1912 (8)), the low blood-pressure and 

 carbohydrate tolerance as.sociated with this syndrone are relieved by 

 injections of infundibulin (posterior lobe extract). 



Again, Gushing and his fellow- workers found that although total 

 extirpation was a fatal operation, the effect was not so rapid in young as 

 in older dogs. 



Lastly, Gushing descril^ed a condition of "cachexia hypophyseopriva " 

 which was considered specific of deprivation (complete or almo.st complete) 

 of pars anterior secretion. 



Biedl (1910 (1)), Avithout giving details, .states that he has confirmed all 

 Gushing's findings; except in regard to stalk separation, which operation, 

 in agreement with Paulesco, he found to cause death. It is hardly worth 

 while to dwell on Biedl's results in the absence of details other than those 

 given in his book (1910 (4)). 



• A.schner also claims to have obtained dystrophia adiposo-genitalis by partial 

 removal of the pituitary by the oral route. There appears to be no doubt, however, 

 that Gushing made the first communication on the subject (1909 (7)). 



