THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM 7 



of Gley on the parathyroid glands and the part they play 

 in the production of tetany opened up a new chapter. 

 A few years ago Morel in physiology and Harvier from an 

 anatomical and clinical point of view brought this subject 

 up to date. 



The suprarenal gland, of which already in 1856, Brown- 

 Sequard had had a glimpse of its importance, is another 

 example of the progress 'of endocrinology. The anatom- 

 ical and clinical investigations of Addison's disease had 

 already shown the consequences of its insufficiency. 

 Oliver and Schafer, Cybilski and Langlois showed the 

 cardio-vascular action of the suprarenal extract and of the 

 venous blood from the suprarenal gland. These researches 

 were finally vindicated by the discovery of suprarenalin, 

 the product of the secretions of this gland. Its hyper- 

 tensive action has led to many important conclusions. We 

 know the part which Josue applies to a hypersecretion of 

 suprarenalin in the production of suprarenal atheroma. 

 As has been pointed out by Sergent and many other 

 clinicians, the part played by an insufficiency of the supra- 

 renals in acute and chronic affections has been deter- 

 mined, in those cases in which hypotension is a cardinal 

 sign. The use of suprarenal extract has been considerably 

 increased since these facts have been brought forward. 

 If certain restrictions have been made by Gley from the 

 point of view of physiology, the facts determined clinically 

 and therapeutically still remain true. 



The story of the investigation of the pancreas is just 

 as rich in useful informations. In 1889-1890 Mering and 

 Minkowski proved experimentally the part played by 

 alterations of the pancreas in the etiology of diabetes, 

 already clarified clinically by Lancereaux and it was 

 shortly afterward that verifying and confirming this 

 discovery, R. Lepine, Thiroloix and Hedon showed that 



