GROWTH AND CHEMICAL PURITY 263 



An impairment of the efficiency of the kinetic 

 system by an impairment of the function of one organ 

 in the system is equivalent to an impairment in effi- 

 ciency through excessive driving of this system by 

 worry, fear, pain, infection, overwork or by insuffi- 

 cient food. The increased rate of growth in a myxce- 

 dematous patient resulting from thyroid feeding is 

 equal to that effected by removing chronically infected 

 tonsils and adenoids, by providing pure milk and good 

 hygiene for the underfed and neglected child or by 

 stopping overwork, pain and worry. 



Conversion of Energy for Reproduction 



The causes which prevent the transformation of en- 

 ergy by the kinetic system for growth also prevent the 

 transformation of energy for reproduction. The same 

 internal and external stimuli which make an excessive 

 demand upon the kinetic system for self-preservative 

 reactions (diminishing or inhibiting the response to 

 growth stimuli), when present in the growing or adult 

 organism, may prevent or retard the development of 

 secondary sexual characteristics, sexual desire, concep- 

 tion and pregnancy. 



It is known that when the thyroid or adrenals are 

 deficient, the development of secondary sexual charac- 

 teristics is retarded. The development of secondary 

 sexual characteristics may be arrested by excision of the 

 sex glands, and may be delayed by acute or chronic 

 infection, by emotional strain, by auto-intoxication, by 

 pyorrhea alveolaris and by defective hygiene. 



It is probable that secondary sexual characteristics 

 and normal sexual function are in part the result of 



