jO GENERAL PART 



the tonus of the vegetative organs. This is expressed in the female sex 

 especially, in the form of the known wave-movement. With maturation of 

 the follicles (especially of the fertilized ovum in pregnancy) there occurs an 

 increased vitality of the whole organism, an increase of the vegetative func- 

 tions which is in part indirectly due to the higher activity of the whole ductless 

 glandular system. At the climacteric, when the generative glands dis- 

 continue their function, there occurs in woman lability of the vegetative 

 nervous system, especially of the vasomotors, a sort of vasomotor ataxia 

 which first disappears again with the complete loss of ovulation. In men 

 too, these climacteric disorders occur, although they are rare. 



At the time of puberty there very decidedly sets in an increase of vegeta- - 

 tive functions; it is attended with the enormous development of the glands 

 of generation, again rather stronger in woman than in man; it often takes 

 place in an incoordinated manner, giving occasion to various disturbances. 

 In specially predisposed female individuals the revolutions in the organism 

 at this time lead to an exhaustion which seems to stand in relation with the 

 development of chlorosis. 



In the other ductless glandular diseases the behavior of the vegetative 

 nervous sytem is still less clear. In premature development due to pineal, 

 suprarenal cortical, or sexual glandular tumors this pubertal increase of the 

 vegetative functions is probably anticipated. As to the influence of the 

 thymus glands on the vegetative nervous system, we can state nothing certain . 



This condensed survey suffices well to show to what extent the activity of 

 the vegetative organs and the excitability of the vegetative nervous system is 

 influenced by the ductless glands. This direction of investigation has just 

 been determined on. As to its further development, especially when physio- 

 logical chemistry has established still more hormones, there is to be expected 

 a deepening of our knowledge as to the symptomatology of the ductless 

 glandular diseases. From the observations up to the present, however, it 

 may be stated, although with insufficient surety, that the affinity of the 

 hormones for the vegetative nerves is an elective affinity ; not even adrenalin 

 itself influences the entire sympathetic group, for it leaves the sweat-glands 

 unaffected. The other ductless glandular extracts, as we know, always show 

 especial elective affinities for certain organs, whether these are supplied by 

 sympathetic or autonomous nerves; clinical observations furnish still more 

 evidence to this effect. Hence it seems to me improper to draw too extensive 

 conclusions from the pharmacological tests of function. Certainly they have 

 furnished us with very valuable inferences, and have provided a deep view 

 into the functions of the organ innervated by the vegetative nervous system. 

 For example, Lowi's reaction is practically constant on the dog without a 

 pancreas. Another example is the reduction of the excitability of the sym- 

 pathetic nerves after extirpation of the thyroid; this is evidenced not only 

 by the diminished glycosuric action of adrenalin, but also by the remaining 



