E VERY-DAY ENDOCRINOLOGY 37 



manner. Some, again, are very optimistic in nature, 

 others are very pessimistic, and so on. 



What is it, then, that accounts for all these differ- 

 ences in individuals, who, according to the character of 

 their external surroundings and mode of life, rather 

 should make up one single type? 



It is logical to assume from the above observations, 

 that the factor or factors responsible for the above- 

 named variations must reside within each individual 

 organism itself, and not outside of it. 



Now, which of the many structures making up the 

 complex human organism logically may be held re- 

 sponsible for the above-named variations or deviations 

 from the normal in size, shape, general development, 

 nervous disposition, temperament, and of many other 

 attributes, mental and physical, of the human mind 

 and body? 



The functions of the majority of the organs of our 

 body are now fairly well known to us and understood ; 

 and, as far as we know and understand them, we have 

 no reasonable ground to make them responsible for the 

 above-mentioned differences or abnormalities. Besides, 

 in every-day medicine not infrequently we encounter 

 patients with complaints or symptoms referable to 

 some certain mechanism of the body, whose function 

 under normal conditions we well know, and the path- 

 ology of which we can make out after it has progressed 

 sufficiently to bring about the usual symptoms. Thus, 

 tachycardia, arrhythmia, dyspnea, extreme nervous 

 irritability are not infrequently the causes that bring 

 patients under our observation ; and, in spite of careful 

 repeated examinations, we fail to find anything wrong 

 with the organs, which are actually engaged in the 

 processes of circulation, respiration, or mentality, so 

 that we must exempt the respective organs from any 

 direct responsibility for the above-mentioned abnormal 

 phenomena. 



