182 THE THYROID, THE THYMUS, AND THE ADRENALS. 



ranted deduction: i.e., that the tliymus is the main organ upon 

 which the osseous, cerebro-spinal, and nervous systems depend for 

 their phosphorus during tJieir development. 



We have also seen that leucocytes are included among the 

 bodies that contain phosphorus. The identity of the thyroid 

 as a bone-forming organ is apparently contradicted by Svehla's 

 observation that fcetal thymus proves inert experimentally; 

 but when we recall the fact that it only assumes its function 

 the fourth month,, that its inordinate activity may cause it to 

 fix but little of the element itself, there is ample room for 

 doubt as to the value of the experiments. If these facts do 

 not prevail, then all the data submitted, the recognized intra- 

 uterine supremacy of the thymus over other glands, Chitten- 

 den's analysis, and several physiologically established facts 

 would also have to be considered wrong. 



If the temporary role of the organism of the thymus pre- 

 cludes a physiological connection between it and the adrenals, 

 how are the beneficial effects in exophthalmic goiter, to which 

 reference has been made, produced? If the cases analyzed by 

 Hector Mackenzie 63 are studied with a view to ascertain which 

 of the various remedies used by him, including thymus gland 

 and extract, have proven of greatest value, it soon becomes 

 evident that the thymus does not differ much from belladonna, 

 phosphate of sodium, and other agents tried by him. In Case 

 XVIII, for instance, thymus and tincture of belladonna proved 

 beneficial; on the remedies being changed to belladonna and 

 bromide considerable improvement occurred. In Case XXIII 

 all the symptoms except the rapid cardiac action greatly dimin- 

 ished under belladonna and phosphate of sodium. A relapse 

 occurring, the treatment was changed to thymus extract, which 

 also caused decided improvement. Case XXVIII was given 

 belladonna, potassium bromide, and thymus extract, also with 

 excellent results. Case XXX was also given sodium phosphate 

 and belladonna for the first fortnight, which caused the patient 

 to feel "better each time." He was then ordered, in addition 

 to the sodium phosphate, some thymus extract. This caused 

 him to feel "better generally." Case XXIII was evidently one 



83 Hector Mackenzie: Loc. cit. 



