118 



THE SEX-COMPLEX 



Regulation 

 of mental 

 processes in 

 women. 



Influence of 

 metabolism 

 on mental 

 functions. 







It has already been indicated that the central biological 

 motive of a normal woman's existence is the propagation 

 of the species ; and since in her this process may occupy 

 the best period of her life almost exclusively, it is 

 obvious that her metabolic processes must be particularly 

 adjustable to the reproductive economy. And, as the 

 mental attitude is considerably dependent on the general 

 metabolism, it follows that the mental processes of every 

 normal woman are largely subservient to the varying 

 physiological conditions of her body. 



It seems almost superfluous now to point out how the 

 mind is affected by the physical condition of the subject ; 

 how different the mental outlook is at puberty and at 

 the menopause ; how different usually in the normal, 

 reproductive woman and in the barren spinster. I know 

 quite well these truisms are often denied by women, 

 and I do not intend to digress : it is no business of ours 

 that social conditions force women out of their natural 

 sphere, and it is not in the province of scientists to 

 suggest remedies. The very fact that women are 

 continually asking for remedies and seeking them is a 

 tacit admission of abnormal circumstances. 



The mental condition of a woman is dependent on her 

 metabolism ; and the metabolism itself is under the 

 influence of the internal secretions. As I have said 

 before, probably every cell in the body is an organ 

 of internal secretion and is intimately connected with the 

 life of all the other cells of the soma. But those aggrega- 

 tions of secretory cells known as the hormonopoietic 

 glands afford us definite information as to the processes 

 of metabolism with which they are connected, con- 

 sequently we can trace their relations to mental processes. 

 It is well known that women with hypothyroidism 

 and hypopituitarism are lethargic ; and we have ample 

 proof that hyperthyroidism produces mental energy and 

 excitability. So, too, we are certain that the removal of 

 normal functionating ovaries usually produces mental 

 depression ; while women with very active ovaries, 

 which can be discerned from the menstrual flow, 



