180 THE SEX-COMPLEX 



is disconnected by inhibitory or diverting hormones 

 when the metabolism of the body requires ajl its energies 

 to combat disease. 



Super- There are a few other pathological conditions by 



on ' which the ovarian secretion is decreased. Super- 

 involution of the uterus following abortion or full-term 

 parturition is difficult to explain. There is hardly any 

 doubt that this lesion is the result of some disturbance 

 in the internal secretory system, but the nature of the 

 derangement is unknown. 



Destructive X-rays will destroy entirely the ovarian function ; 



ovary. 8 * so also will destructive lesions of the ovaries, such as 

 new growths and infections. And, last, removal of 

 the uterus may lead to premature ovarian atrophy, as 

 was originally pointed out by Zweifel and Abel 1 . 



Treatment of A few words are now necessary concerning the value 

 insufficiency. ^ methods of treating ovarian insufficiency, based on 

 the principles of what is known as organotherapy. 



This is a very difficult subject to dicuss in a few 

 words, for every case must be treated on its own merits 

 after careful investigations. Supplementary or antagon- 

 istic hormone-therapy, as the case may be, may be most 

 useful, but it is necessary that full metabolic and other 

 investigations, which cannot be detailed here, should 

 be worked out if satisfactory results are to be obtained 

 and disappointments avoided. 



Ovarian Ovarian transplantation which, as we have seen, can 



ke satisfactorily accomplished in animals, is often useful 

 in surgical practice. In my experience it is difficult 

 to obtain permanent results, but much good may be 

 done in the way of mitigating the violence of an 

 artificial menopause, and of delaying it. Of recent 

 years this procedure has been practised, but somewhat 

 spasmodically ; and apart from the reports of Professor 

 Turner of Paris 2 no large number of cases has been 



1 Zweifel, P., and K. Abel, quoted by Alban Doran, Trans. 

 Obstet. Soc., 1905, vol. Ivii, p. 363. 



* Tuffier, T., Surg. Oynecol. and Obstet., 1915, vol. xx, p. 30. 



