INTERRELATIONS OF SECRETIONS 47 



Male, aged 41, height 5 feet 8 inches, and weight 119 

 pounds, gave the history of dysentery three months 

 previous, which was severe. He was ill in bed two 

 months, and since that time had been under the care 

 of a physician who had prescribed tonics by mouth and 

 had also given them hypodermically. Despite this 

 treatment he had not gained in weight and his mental 

 attitude was hopeless, as he wanted to take out some 

 life insurance and knew his physical condition would 

 be against it. Examination showed all organs nor- 

 mal except the apex beat, which was "soft." The blood 

 pressure showed the cause of the trouble. The read- 

 ings : Systolic, 105 ; diastolic, 80 mm. The stimulat- 

 ing tonics were discontinued and a pluriglandular 

 formula was given for two months. At this time the 

 systolic pressure was 127 mm., and he weighed 147 

 pounds. 



His despondency has now left him, and he has not 

 yet, after one year, taken out life insurance. The 

 necessity of "protection" for his family left him as soon 

 as the well-being was restored, due to the reestablish- 

 ment of the normal endocrine balance. He also stated 

 that his libido had been increased, which demonstrated 

 the broader effect of the stimulation from the pluri- 

 glandular extract. 



Nature, by selective action, always tries to maintain 

 the endocrine balance. If one organ is impaired the 

 co-operative selective action of the other glands helps 

 to keep the balance by making use of the allied secre- 

 tions where possible. At other times the function of 

 other glands is increased to make up deficiency. If 

 this close relationship were not maintained, the balance 

 would be very easily shaken and comparatively slight 

 disturbance of any of the organs would lead to notice- 

 able clinical symptoms. The results of endocrine un- 

 derproduction or overproduction would be felt imme- 

 diately. This hormonic action of one gland upon an- 

 other is in relationship with all glands, whether these 

 glands produce endocrine substances which augment 

 their action, or whether they counteract it. Only in 



