10 ENDOCRINE GLANDS 



and posterior lobe. Where the colloidal glandular secretion 

 accumulates and which allows us, if not to understand, 

 at least to imagine what can be the function of this 

 vascular nervous gland (Soyer). Histology is all the time 

 bringing us new findings which can be utilized by the 

 physician. By understanding the cellular mechanism of the 

 endocrin secretions, it is possible to better understand the 

 functional disturbances noticed clinically. It is thanks to 

 histology, that by the microscopic study of the lesions of 

 exophthalmic goitre it is possible to invoke dysthyroidism as 

 the cause of the symptoms and not a simple hyperf unction. 

 THE CHEMICAL STUDY by determining in these sub- 

 stances, certain definite compounds,, such as, suprarenalin, 

 glycogen, cholesterin, etc., takes us one step further in the 

 study of the glandular secretions. While we do not deny 

 the progress made in this line during the last few years, w T e 

 must admit that there is still much to be learned in this 

 respect. How could it be otherwise, considering the com- 

 plexity of the study of these secretions which can only be 

 found either in the blood or in the cell itself as contrasted 

 with the products of the glands of external secretion. It 

 is this lack of chemical knowledge which makes our treat- 

 ment with organo therapeutic products so empirical. We 

 know the action of the total extract; sometimes we know 

 the action of certain of the constituents, such as, suprare- 

 nalin, but in the majority of cases the pharmacological 

 study of the extract is impossible. In this respect it is 

 extraordinary how the thyroid secretions, so well known in 

 their therapeutic effects, are so ill defined from a chemical 

 point of view. It is to be hoped that the rapid progress of 

 chemistry will soon overcome this deficiency. Already we 

 know something of the secretion of the anterior lobe of the 

 pituitary (tetheline), showing the part played by certain 



