SPHYGMOMANOMETER AND ENDOCRINES 139 



blood pressure rises, elimination is increased, and a 

 condition of greater vigor is recognized. 



In times past, when it was observed that the system 

 was being overwhelmed by toxemia, there would be 

 begun what in medical parlance we call "stimulation," 

 and strychnia, digitalis and other heart-whips would 

 be applied; now as we shall see, we investigate the 

 adrenal aspects of the case and spare and encourage 

 these little glands when necessary. 



Purgation at the outset of most infections is rational 

 therapeusis, as it is an attempt to use outside agents 

 to eliminate poisons from the system. But purgation 

 must not be kept up indefinitely; and, furthermore, it 

 accomplishes only a part of the work of elimination. 

 The kidneys, skin, and lungs each must do their part 

 and unless the blood pressure is up to normal and each 

 organ given the requisite amount of blood, their full 

 quota of work cannot be accomplished. 



Many discoveries have been the result of accident, a 

 mere stumbling onto something useful without any 

 directing force along the path. On the other hand, 

 many discoveries are the result of hard study and 

 research. It has been the experience of a large part of 

 the profession today, that our lecturers on physiology, 

 not so very many years ago, coming in their discussions 

 to the subjects of the thyroid, thymus, spleen, or adre- 

 nal glands, would generally, after a brief anatomical 

 description, dismiss the subject with the remark, "One 

 of the ductless glands ; function unknown." 



The work done on the hormone-producing organs and 

 the knowledge regarding them that has been gained 

 as a result of much effort by many workers within the 

 past score of years is vast, both in quantity and value. 

 These discoveries must be classed with all the great 

 discoveries of physiology, and are of even greater im- 

 portance to medicine than some things that we for- 

 merly considered of first importance. This is because of 



