476 SEROTHERAPY 



DUCTLESS GLANDS 



A certain number of glands in the body, some of great physiological 

 importance, have no ducts to carry away secretion. There are two 

 theories concerning the method by which these glands function: The 

 theory generally accepted as correct is, briefly, that there is a secretion 

 formed, which, when carried away by the veins or lymphatics, is re- 

 sponsible for the ascribed function of the gland; the other theory is to 

 the effect, that these glands perform only excretory duties, and that when 

 they fail to function properly, the toxic or unusual effects noticed are due 

 to poisoning by the uneliminated substances. 



Among these ductless glandular bodies, the following are the more 

 important ones: The spleen, the adrenals, the thyroid gland, the para- 

 thyroid glands, the thymus gland, the lymphatic glands, the carotid, 

 coccygeal, pineal and pituitary bodies. 



The value of the thyroid gland, in cases of mycedema was discovered 

 by Dr. Geprge Murray in 1891, he administering the gland by hypodermic 

 injections. In 1892, Drs. Hector Mackenzie, E. T. Fox, and Howetz, 

 each working independently, showed that the gland was equally efficacious 

 when administered by the mouth. The remedy was soon after applied 

 to cretinism and its effects were found to be even more wonderful. Since 

 then, preparations of other ductless glands have come more or less into 

 practical use. 



The activities of the various tissues of the body are presided over 

 and controlled not merely by the action of the nervous system, but also 

 by chemical substances, the result of the activity of certain organs. To 

 these chemical substances the name of "hormones" has been given. 

 Epinephrine is the hormone which has been most thoroughly investigated, 

 and it is a product of the central part of the suprarenal glands. A 

 hormone closely allied to epinephrine is derived from the pituitary body, 

 and it causes constriction of the small arteries, except those of the kidney, 

 which it dilates. lodothyrin, the active principle secreted by the thyroid 

 glands, appears to stimulate the rate of chemical exchange in the various 

 tissues; it increases the waste of both proteins and fat. 



THYROIDEUM SICCUM, U.S.P. The thyroid glands of animals 

 which are used for food by man, freed from connective tissue and fat, dried 

 and powdered. One part of dried thyroid corresponds with approximately 

 5 parts of the fresh glands, and must contain not less than 0.17 per cent, 

 nor more than 0.23 per cent, of iodin in thyroid combination. The 

 average dose is o.i Gm. 



These glands are assayed by U.S.P. method. 



LIQUOR THYROIDEI is a pink turbid liquid made by macerating the 

 fresh gland of a sheep with glycerin and phenol. 



ANTITHYROID PREPARATIONS. Rodogen is a white powder consisting 

 of the dried milk of thyroidectomized goats, mixed with 50 per cent. 



