108 THE SEX-COMPLEX 



The genital system cease, and the rearrangement of the metabolism 

 the extra,- that follows produces the symptoms of the menopause, 



as we sna11 see later ' Contrari wise, insufficiency of the 

 secretion. thyroid, pituitary or suprarenals may cause the cessation 

 of the genital functions with atrophy of the uterus. 



As to the more particular parts played in the meta- 

 bolism by each member of the ductless gland system, 

 these have already been specified. 



In spite, therefore, of the reluctance to correlate our 

 knowledge shown by most investigators the matter is 

 not one of very great complexity if the views expressed 

 be correct in a general way, although there remains much 

 detail to be filled in. 



interdepend- As soon as possible we must come to a conclusion as 

 idual and to what are the facts ; so much of the work that has been 

 metabolism 6 ^ one * s contra dictory. There is in consequence so much 

 more need for further efforts. And I would again 

 insist that in order completely to solve the problems 

 surrounding the genital functions, we must focus at one 

 and the same time the two essential processes of life 

 the individual metabolism and the reproductive meta- 

 bolism. They are absolutely interdependent ; indeed, 

 the individual metabolism is the reproductive meta- 

 bolism. It is the neglect of this point of view that has 

 brought about much of the confusion that still exists. 



Weismann and Ray Lankester describe the relation 

 between the reproductive cells and those of the soma in 

 still more striking terms. The latter 1 says : " Among 

 " the multicellular animals, certain cells are separated 

 " from the rest of the constituent units of the body, as 

 " egg cells and sperm-cells ; these conjugate and con- 

 " tinue to live, whilst the remaining cells, the mere 

 " carriers as it were of the immortal reproductive cells, 

 " die and disintegrate. The bodies of the higher animals 

 " which die may from this point of view be regarded 

 " as something temporary and non-essential destined 

 " merely to carry for .a time, to nurse and to nourish 



1 Lankester, Ray, quoted by P. Geddes and J. A. Thomson, The 

 Evolution of Sex, Revised edition, 1901, 



