THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM 171 



Its removal has given different results, according to the 

 man investigating the condition. It is a very delicate 

 operation, which is difficult to perform without injuring 

 the neighboring nerve tissue. It seems, however, that the 

 anterior and posterior lobes have different properties. 



1. FUNCTION OF THE ANTERIOR LOBES.- The ante- 

 rior lobe has something to do with the development of the 

 skeleton and the growth of the body. Casseli, Fichera, 

 Aschner, Ascoli and Leguani have found that the removal 

 of the pituitary in young dogs nearly always causes death, 

 two or three days after the operation. In the animals 

 that survive, it is noticed a sudden cessation of growth, 

 disturbances in ossification, an exaggerated adiposity and 

 a genital hypoplasia. The genital organs keep their 

 infantile characteristics and the seminal epithelium does 

 not differentiate. The pituitary, therefore, controls, to 

 a certain extent, growth and the genital organs. It has 

 some action on metabolism of fat and the symptoms noticed 

 on its removal are very similar to those found in certain 

 tumors of the pituitary. 



Inversely, Goetsch by feeding young rats with extracts 

 of the anterior lobe, noticed a stimulation of growth and 

 rapid development of the sexual glands. 



2. FUNCTION OF THE POSTERIOR LOBE. The injec- 

 tion of pituitary extract increases the blood pressure 

 (Oliver and Schafer). This hypertensive action is accom- 

 panied by a decrease in the heart rate and strengthening 

 of the systole. It is less intense, but lasts longer than that 

 caused by suprarenalin. The cardio vascular function 

 belongs to the posterior lobe; only the extracts of this lobe 

 are active. Those of the anterior lobe being without any 

 effect. It is believed that the secretions of the anterior 

 lobe accumulate in the posterior one. 



The action of the pituitary on the renal functions is 



