38 THE SEX-COMPLEX ^ 



Variations oophorectomy in women are largely dependent on the 

 of oophorec- 8 individual variations which we know exist with respect 

 tomy in the to the adjustments of the internal secretions, and which 



num. an 



subject. are often evident in the outward characteristics of 

 adiposity and thinness, lethargy and brightness, and in 

 many other physical and psychical attributes. It is 

 clear, therefore, that if one woman be better adjusted 

 than another against the removal of the ovarian secretion 

 she will show lesser signs of the menopause. Animals do 

 not vary to the same extent ; they all seem to have 

 remarkable powers of readjustment. But, with the 

 higher psychical evolution of Woman it is not surprising 

 that removal of the ovaries often causes in her a severe 

 alteration of temperament. 



It has been supposed that the changes which occur 

 in other members of the internal secretory system after 

 removal of one of their number are in some cases com- 

 pensatory, and, consequently, that disturbances in the 

 metabolism may thus be made good or prevented. 



EFFECTS OF OOPHORECTOMY ON THE THYROID 



Changes in If we were to select any other order of mammal 



oophor- tnan tne rodent we should come to the conclusion that 



the alteration in the functional activity of the thyroid 

 rodents. after oophorectomy was of little or no importance in 

 so far as histological evidence was concerned. For 

 instance, in the cat I have been unable to detect any 

 material difference after oophorectomy in the thyroid 

 itself or in the parathyroids. But when the thyroid of 

 a normal female rabbit is compared with the thyroid 

 of another animal of the same species after removal of 

 the ovaries a very different picture may be seen. 



The thyroid of the normal non-cestrous and non- 

 pregnant female rabbit is not a very active organ so 

 far as the production of colloid is concerned (fig. 16). 

 But after the removal of the ovaries the vesicles are 

 greatly distended with colloid (fig. 17). Further, one 

 notices that the colloid is basophil in character, and 



