44 ENDOCRINE THERAPEUTICS 



about the presence of hyperadrenia, but the 

 subject is so mixed up with thyroid failure that 

 I shall go more fully into the question when I 

 treat of the thyroid gland. But before going on 

 to this subject I would like to quote Sajous' 

 warning : " In old age the adrenals are deficient 

 in maintaining the circulating activity of all 

 organs up to their former standard. It becomes 

 a question whether, realizing this fact, we should 

 by artificial means excite the adrenals to greater 

 activity. That such a step might shorten life, 

 instead of prolonging it, is probable. In the first 

 place, the presence of arterio-sclerosis in the 

 aged counsels prudence, in the second place to 

 activate the adrenals would only hasten their 

 degeneration by imposing a greater wear and tear 

 upon them. Drugs capable of enhancing activity 

 had therefore better be avoided in the aged." 



The wise, scientific, and safe plan is by quietly 

 reducing arterial tension and resistance to restore 

 the adrenals to complete or partial competency. 

 That this can be done I hope to show in the next 

 chapter. 



