Ill 



SOME CLINICAL ASPECTS OF ENDOCRINOLOGY 

 BY F. J. FARNELL, M.D., F.A.C.P., Providence, R. I* 



"One thinks metaphysically; but one lives 

 and acts physically." DESCARTES. 



Should one be called upon to consider the most impor- 

 tant factors necessary for complete harmony in one's 

 self, the first thought would be, undoubtedly, one's own 

 self. And yet, is that all that is necessary? "Know 

 thyself" has long been recognized ; but even then, with- 

 out an harmonious environment, proper mental and 

 physical adjustment oftentimes cannot take place. 

 Sherrington once said, "environment drives the brain 

 and the brain drives the body." 



There is little doubt that exogenous factors play an 

 important part in the response or rapport of the various 

 physiological functions, which, when linked with poorly 

 developed instinctive demands, unstable emotional 

 activities or variations in the personality balance, 

 causes a tendency towards a corresponding reaction 

 affecting the tonus system which brings about a varia- 

 tion in the cardiovascular response, producing biochem- 

 ical changes and metabolic disturbances with variations 

 in the endocrine output. 



In the discussion of this subject the writer will at- 

 tempt to present a few aspects of its clinical signifi- 

 cance, emphasizing those facts which indicate a quali- 



* The writer of this essay received the third prize of $75.00. 



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