THOUGHTS ON INTERNAL SECRETION 203 



To the sexual glands belong that rare and evanescent 

 phase of life known as youth, characterized by an ex- 

 uberance of spirit, and energy run riot, and physically, 

 by the bloom on the cheek, the light in the eye, and that 

 illumination of countenance, which has given rise to 

 the saying that, "Even the devil was handsome when 

 young." 



Zoth and Pregl, by a series of carefully conducted ex- 

 periments, have shown that greater vigor and an in- 

 creased muscular capacity follows the oral administra- 

 tion of testicular extract. 



The next organ to receive the attention of the physi- 

 ologist, was the adrenal gland. It was noticed that dur- 

 ing fetal life the adrenals were much larger than the 

 kidneys ; that at birth they are about equal in size, and 

 that a process of involution is immediately inaugurated, 

 which slowly brings about old age. 



It was further learned that the organ is composed of 

 two separate glands, which in the lower animals re- 

 main apart ; that the upper or cortical portion had the 

 greatest effect of all glands on general body develop- 

 ment, the evolution of the organs, and the growth of 

 hair. A tumor of this part of the gland will cause a 

 child of 5 to appear 10, or even 15 years of age. In 

 men of the Esau type, who have much hair over chest 

 and abdomen, and women who have mustaches, there is 

 an unusual activity of the cortical portion of their adre- 

 nals. Hemorrhage of the adrenals is far more fre- 

 quent than is supposed, and is perhaps less frequently 

 recognized than any other acute trouble in the body. 

 Many a case of sudden pain in the abdomen, operated 

 for appendicitis or perforation of the abdominal vis- 

 cera, and nothing found, is a case of hemorrhage of the 

 adrenals. 



The one symptom of insufficiency of the medullary 

 portion of the adrenals, is weakness and languor, with 

 low blood pressure. Neurasthenia, accompanied by a 



