INFANTILISM 467 



in primary brain lesions, unilateral or bilateral; 



in hereditary syphilis; 



in alcoholism or other poisonings (lead, mercury, etc.) of the parents; 



in other diseases and metabolic disturbances that are acquired early, 

 such as tuberculosis, chlorosis, and cardiac defects; 



through deformities due to bad hygienic surroundings and to insuffi- 

 cient nourishing of the child. 



Of partial infantilism, I mention especially the infantilism consisting in 

 an atrophy of the genitalia, and the pure psychical infantilism. 



I would finally especially emphasize here the excellent studies of di 

 Gasperos. Here we find five cases described in detail, which, as we shall see 

 later, are fine examples of true infantilism. Di Gasperos handles with special 

 care the psychical side of the problem. 



Schuller divides infantilism into two forms: He distinguishes a dys- 

 trophic form conditioned by hereditary diseases, or diseases acquired in 

 early youth, and a form whose pathogenesis is seen to depend on a lesion of a 

 definite ductless gland (thyroid, hypophysis, etc.). 



The regular undevelopment of the genitals in the type described by Lorain 

 has induced many authors to term "infantilism" the most varying patho- 

 logic states in which the genitalia remain more or less hypoplastic. Thus 

 we find in the literature numerous cases of true gigantism published under 

 the title infantilism plus gigantism. Further we find published numerous 

 cases of infantilism whose description would correspond to that which in a 

 former chapter we have regarded as eunuchoids, or cases that at all events 

 must be regarded as transition forms between eunuchoids and true in- 

 fantiles. This is especially the case in the new expositions of the subject 

 by Peretz and by Pende. In the work of Peretz we find nearly all the duct- 

 less glandular diseases associated with developmental disturbances classified 

 as infantilism. Even infantile features are ascribed to hypergenitalism. 

 Candy terms "infantilism reversif ou tardif" cases in which after com- 

 pleted development a retrogression of the genitalia and the secondary 

 sexual characters begins (confer "late eunuchoidism," Chapter X). The 

 ductless glandular theory has found an especially ardent advocate in Pende, 

 who assumes as the cause of infantilism a disease of the ductless glandular 

 system. He bluntly calls infantilism a disease of the ductless glandular 

 system, and arrays himself against the opinions advocated by Anton and 

 others, that there is also an infantilism that is dystrophic ectoglandular, 

 and independent of a disease of the endocrine glands. 



We see then, that there is hardly an idea in the medical literature con- 

 cerning which there is more confusion than that pertaining to infantilism. 



The name infantilism can surely readily give occasion to misunder- 

 standings because in any kind of inhibition of development, infantile features 

 may be retained. I believe, however, that a clear definition is possible if we 



