188 ENDOCRINE GLANDS 



The most reasonable theory is that suggested by 

 Fischer, Erdheim and Gushing. While acromegalia is due 

 to a hyperfunction of the anterior lobe, pituitary infanti- 

 lism must be due to hypofunction of this lobe. The 

 syndrome of adiposo genitalis seems to be due to a lesion 

 of the posterior lobe. When it is the result of a pituitary 

 tumor, the latter is developed towards the base of the 

 brain more than towards the base of the skull. In the cases 

 in which at autopsy the pituitary is found normal, both 

 from a macroscopic and microscopic point of view, and in 

 which a tumor is noticed at some distance from the gland 

 (tumor of the dura mater, of the cerebellum, etc.) or a 

 chronic hydrocephalus, there is compression, more or 

 less distinct, of the posterior lobe and the floor of the 

 third ventricle. 



Acromegalia can be associated with a syndrome of 

 adiposogenitalis, when a tumor of the anterior lobe com- 

 presses or invades the posterior lobe. 



V. PITUITARY GLYCOSURIA. 



Clinical observations and experimental studies have 

 established the existence of pituitary glycosuria. 



It was first noticed by Loeb in 1884 during the course 

 of pituitary tumors. P. Marie in 1886 found it present in 

 about one-half the cases of acromegalia. Launois and Roy 

 also noticed it in giants. It is also found in pituitary 

 infantilism. It is not present in the syndrome of adiposo- 

 genitalis; in fact, quite a few cases have an increased 

 tolerance for sugar. 



Its clinical characteristics are very variable. The 

 glycosuria may be continuous or intermittent. It may 

 disappear under the influence of diabetic treatment. The 

 quantity excreted is sometimes quite large and can reach 

 more than 1000 grams daily. It is often associated with 



