EUNUCHS 391 



cortex always leads to a marked development of the hairiness on the trunk, 

 but that an increase of the activity of the generative glands enters in only 

 when there is an especial vitality of these glands, while in the cases in which 

 vitality fails, there is rapid exhaustion. In the very strong impulses in 

 childhood there would come about a pronounced increase (premature de- 

 velopment), and in already matured individuals an exhaustion. In acro- 

 megaly, in which this impulse is very much less feeble, a temporary increase 

 of function may first occur; even in late years, although in most cases the 

 exhaustion appears in the foreground already from the beginning. 



These observations and convictions ascribe to the suprarenal cortex 

 an important trophic influence on a very important sexual character, namely, 

 the hairiness. This supposition finds a certain support in embryology and 

 histology. Let us recollect that the suprarenal glands as well as the inter- 

 stitial glands are of mesodermal origin, that both proceed from immediately 

 contiguous parts of the celom, and that the histological picture of cortical 

 cells and the interstitial cells present a great similarity. Also Glynn inclines 

 to the assumption that the suprarenal cortex is a trophic center for the growth 

 of beard and the hairiness on the body, and believes that we should properly 

 expect that in man the suprarenal cortex is better developed than in woman. 

 As is known, this is really not the case. I would not, however, ascribe any 

 great significance to this absence of better development in man. As we can- 

 not quite discard the assumption of a masculine or a feminine predisposition 

 [Anlage] for the body, it is explicable that with normal impulses the mascu- 

 line or feminine type of hair distribution will exist. When, however, the 

 impulse is considerably increased, then the virile type in man is potentized, 

 while in women the virile type is approached or attained. Even under 

 physiological conditions, namely, in pregnancy, is there an approach to 

 the virile type. This idea also includes the explanation of why in pseudo- 

 hermaphroditismus femininus the suprarenal cortex is usually found so 

 hyperplastic. 



II. AGENITALISM OR HYPOGENITALISM 



i. The Eunuchs 



Occurrence. The manifestations of agenitalism or hypogenitalism 

 occur in the form of a pure physiological experiment in eunuchs and in 

 skopzen. Castration, as is known, was very much practised in antiquity; 

 even until a short time ago it was carried out in Italy for " musical purposes," 

 and in the Orient it is to-day carried out on the watchers of the harem, 

 and in Russia on the religious sect, the skopzen, on religious grounds. All 

 these forms affect male individuals. As to castration of females there 

 exists only a very inexact report from India by Roberts. 



Symptomatology. An excellent exposition of the symptomatology has 

 been given by Tandler and Grbsz, which I shall in great part follow. The 



