32 THE SEX-COMPLEX 



EFFECTS OF OOPHORECTOMY ON THE GENERAL 

 METABOLISM 



I performed the following experiments to test the 

 effect of this operation on the general metabolism. It 

 may with some justice be urged that metabolism experi- 

 ments can only be of relative value unless the total 

 intake and total output are estimated. But even in 

 such estimates it is impossible to gauge in the excretions 

 the results of tissue-destruction. 



The ovaries were removed from six cats which were 

 kept subsequently to operation for periods ranging from 

 99 to 245 days. The urine was collected and fully 

 examined at frequent intervals, both before and after 

 operation. 



Author's In table I are brought together a number of records 



which represent the averages of the 24-hours' specimens 

 of urine collected and examined before and after opera- 

 tion. The tables were worked out in this way, as it 

 seemed the best for indicating the total results. All 

 metabolism experiments require most careful handling, 

 and the complete records here given show clearly why 

 contradictory results have been obtained by various 

 observers dealing with insufficient material. As I have 

 already stated, there are both normal and abnormal 

 individual variations in animals, just as there are in 

 women under apparently similar circumstances. All my 

 animals were kept together and fed on the same food. 

 The urines were collected in special metabolism cages 

 not all on the same days, of course, owing to the number 

 of these cages being limited. 



With regard to the details to be found in this table, 

 it will be noticed that the daily total quantities of 

 urine collected are not stated. I have records of these, 

 but they have been omitted because it is rarely pos- 

 sible in an ordinary way to make sure of collecting 

 all the urine, and because animals, unlike women, do 

 not pass a uniform quantity daily. I have, therefore, 



