776 INTERNAL SECRETIONS AND PRESERVATION OF LIFE. 



cent, mortality) reported by Petresco 105 with very large doses 

 of infusion of digitalis, and by a large number of clinicians with 

 veratrum viride, but only when used during the sthenic stage. 

 In the light of our views these agents, which normally bring 

 on adrenal insufficiency, lower the excessive adrenal activity of 

 pneumonia sufficiently to prevent the dangerous engorgement 

 of the first stage, and, therefore, that of gray hepatization and 

 its main consequence: the asthenic stage. In the latter, of 

 course, the adrenal system must be supported, but with due 

 care, owing to the increased likelihood of adrenal insufficiency. 



Insanity, when due to factors other than structural 

 changes, seems to us to present many phases that are directly 

 traceable to insufficiency or overactivity of the adrenal system. 

 The splendid studies of Andriezen and Berkley have enabled us 

 to show the morbid effects of adrenal overactivity as caused by 

 alcohol, ricin, etc., upon the neurons and the structures that 

 supply them with their plasma: i.e., with oxidizing substance. 

 Since then, we have seen that leucocytosis also means an ex- 

 cessive supply of the primary source of energy: i.e., of myelin 

 granules. We therefore have, as a result of the excessive use 

 of any agent capable of exciting the adrenal system, not only 

 the mechanical dilation or beading of the dendrites shown in 

 the plates we have reproduced, but excessive metabolism within 

 the neurons. That exaltation, the various forms of mania, etc., 

 should develop under such conditions, particularly in individ- 

 uals predisposed to mental disorders through inherited cerebral 

 malnutrition, is self-evident. On the other hand, a similar pre- 

 disposition, or continued cerebral malnutrition incident upon a 

 debilitated adrenal system, can normally become a cause of the 

 various forms of melancholia, dementia, idiocy, etc. We have 

 traced cretinism to adrenal insufficiency, and have adduced evi- 

 dence tending to prove that absence of the thymus the main 

 active factor of which is phosphorus coincided with idiocy in 

 a large proportion of cases. What have we here but impaired 

 nutrition of the cerebral structures through insufficiency of 

 their main dynamic elements: phosphorus and oxygen? 



Immunizing medication here can obviously render great 



106 T. G. Ashton: "Sajous's Analytical Cyclopaedia of Practical Medicine," 

 vol. v. 



