THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM 133 



anterior lobe of the pituitary resulting in both cases in a 

 stimulation of the osteogenetic function. 



How can we explain that the exaggeration of this func- 

 tion results in these two conditions? 



Perhaps by a different evolution of the cellular hyper- 

 plasia of the pituitary. When the proliferation follows 

 the normal, gigantism appears; when it is atypical, 

 acromegalia results. In other words, gigantism is due to 

 hyperpituitarism and acromegalia to dyspituitarism. 



This conception is still a hypothesis. It has at least 

 the advantage of allowing us to understand how gigantism 

 may be followed by acromegalia or combine with it, when 

 after a period of proliferation, the glandular cells deviate 

 from the normal. 



III. PITUITARY INFANTILISM. 



This is a fairly uncommon condition, known in France 

 by the observations of Burnier and the investigations of 

 Souques and Chauvet. 



It appears at any period of childhood up to 17 and is 

 characterized by an arrest of development. (Children 16 

 or 20 have a height of 10 or 14) the limbs are thin, while 

 the body has a certain amount of adiposity. 



The genital organs, even after puberty, have an infantile 

 aspect. The secondary sexual characteristics are missing: 

 the hairs are few or missing on the pubis and axilla. The 

 beard does not grow. The voice keeps its childish tones. 

 In other words, it gives the complete picture of infantilism. 1 



These patients die from cachexia, after having had 

 symptoms of cerebral tumor or they may succumb to 

 some intercurrent disease, tuberculosis in particular. 



x The abnormal height of castrated individuals is sometimes designated under the 

 name of eunuchoid gigantism. This is not a satisfactory term, as it may be confused 

 with certain pituitary syndromes. 



