356 ENDOCRINE GLANDS 



therefore, capable of bringing back a disturbed functional 

 equilibrium in one way or another. Other interpretations 

 could be given, but for the present it is sufficient to say 

 that such results are exceptional. 



ORGANO THERAPY AS A SYMPTOMATIC MEDICATION. 

 To supplement a diseased organ in its secretory function, 

 or to restore it to its integrity, the clinical study of the 

 symptoms is naturally necessary. To bring out the factor 

 or to treat a symptom, we can also proceed by sympto- 

 matic medication. 



Certain symptoms or syndromes are justifiably treated 

 by organo therapy, whatever their initial cause; for 

 instance, in capillary hemorrhage of traumatic origin; 

 suprarenalin applied in situ, or injected subcutaneously 

 or intravenously will remedy this condition, thanks to 

 its vaso-constriction power. 



There is no question in this case of influencing the 

 suprarenal capsule. We are using a medication which we 

 know, empirically will remedy the symptom. 



The same holds true in certain affections characterized 

 by complex clinical symptoms which have not been 

 demonstrated to be of endocrine origin. For instance, 

 suprarenalin or pituitrin, or better still, a combination of 

 both is very efficacious in stopping attacks of bronchial 

 asthma. This does not mean that asthma is due to a 

 deficiency of the pituitary or of the adrenals. We are 

 using these medications against a certain syndrome which 

 we know empirically will be improved by it. These are 

 purely symptomatic medications, the mechanism of which 

 is still obscure. 



We could multiply these examples many times, but the 

 ones we have mentioned are sufficient to show that organo 

 therapy can be employed when there is no internal 

 secretion deficiency, in the same manner as we employ 



