THE PANCREAS 



It is probable that the cryptorrhceic cells of the 

 pancreas have no direct relation to the genital functions, 

 although no doubt the influence of the pancreas on the 

 general metabolism and possibly on the other hormono- 

 poietic organs of the individual may exert an indirect 

 control. 



It has been shown by Lafon 1 that when the pancreas The secretion 



, c .... . . of the foetal 



is removed from a pregnant bitch, no glycosiiria is pancre as may 

 observed until the uterus is emptied, when the same ^ conveyed 

 train of symptoms as that seen in the non-pregnant mother. 

 animal glycosuria, emaciation and death rapidly 

 supervenes. Lafon therefore came to a conclusion 

 regarding the probable passage of the foetal pancreatic 

 hormones into the maternal circulation in these cir- 

 cumstances similar to the one I have formulated con- 

 cerning the results of thyroidectomy in pregnant cats 

 (p. 53). This matter, which is of extreme interest and 

 importance, has been confirmed in regard to the pan- 

 creas by Carlson 2 and others. 



Crowe, Gushing and Homans 3 have studied the Effect on 

 effect on the pancreas of partial removal of the anterior 



lobe of the pituitary, but the results obtained have not moval of pars 



been very conclusive of any definite changes. In my pituitary. 



experiments I was unable to find any alterations from 



the normal in the pancreas : in all cases it appeared to 



be active. Sweet and Allen 4 lay particular stress on 



the secretory activity of the pancreas after complete or 



partial removal of the pituitary. 



1 Lafon, G., Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol, 1913, vol. Ixxv, p. 266. 



2 Carlson, A. J., Trans. Amer. Gynecol Soc., 1917, vol. xlii, p. 131. 



3 Crowe, S. J., H. Gushing, and J. Homans, Bull. Johns Hopk. 

 Hosp., 1910, vol. xxi, p. 127. 



* Sweet, J. E., and A. K. Allen, Ann. Surg., 1913, vol. Ivii, p. 485, 



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