188 



THE SEX-COMPLEX 



Thyroid no evidence, either metabolic or symptomatic, was 



the iV tox^m?as obtained in support of this view ; indeed, as indicated, 



of pregnancy, ft appeared that the animals from which the thyroid 



was removed in the later stages of pregnancy were 



considerably less affected than those which were not 



pregnant. An explanation of this has already been 



suggested (p. 54). 



Hyper- 

 thyroidism. 



Hyper- 

 thyroidism 

 and the 

 genital 

 functions. 



Excess of Thyroid Secretion. It is a common 

 experience to meet with an excess of thyroid secretion 

 in connexion with pelvic lesions, and we must be careful 

 to distinguish between those cases which are the result of 

 genital affections and those which are the cause of them. 



In a recent analysis of 93 cases of exophthalmic goitre 

 it was found that 92*5 per cent, of the cases occurred in 

 women, and that in 9 per cent, of these the origin of the 

 disease could definitely be traced to disturbances in the 

 genital organs 1 . 



It is certain that after the menopause the thyroid 

 normally undergoes some retrogression, after, perhaps, a 

 period of minor hyperthyroidism ; and it is probable 

 that removal of the ovaries leads, eventually at all events, 

 to the same condition in a majority of cases. But, as 

 previously mentioned, in some cases acute exophthalmic 

 goitre may intervene. 



Experimentally, we have seen that a considerable 

 increase in the colloid formation follows oophorectomy, 

 but it is certain that this is a condition entirely different 

 from Graves' disease. At the same time, we know 

 far too little about exophthalmic goitre especially 

 in its relation to simple goitre, and to myxcedema with 

 which it not infrequently alternates to speak definitely 

 on this question. 



Excessive thyroid secretion may affect the genital 

 functions in two ways : first, it may stimulate them to 

 unusual activity ; or, second, the general metabolism 

 may be so upset that the genital functions cease. There 

 is no doubt that there is a condition of hyperthyroidism 



1 Gurney, Helen M., Brit. Med. Journ., 1915, vol. i, p. 924. 



