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JOHN T. HALSEY 



(including 5 cases of his own), reached the conclusion that oral admin- 

 istration oif placental substance slightly increased the amount secreted by 

 nursing women, whose supply was already ample, but that its efficiency 

 had not yet been shown where the milk supply was scanty. McNeile, 

 from observations conducted for eleven days on 8 patients and their babies 

 and on 8 controls, felt that he could draw no definite conclusions as to 

 the value of placenta! feedings, but appears to have some confidence in it. 

 Cornell, from observations on 100 cases, who received dried placental 

 substance, 5 grains t.i.d. for 12 doses, and 70 controls, concluded that 

 placental therapy exerted a favorable effect on the production of milk, 

 basing this conclusion on the earlier gain in weight in the babies of the 

 placenta series. 



As the evidence presented in these three papers, while suggestive, is 

 by no means convincing, it would appear that the therapeutic value of 

 administration of placental substance is still very questionable. 



Mammary Gland 



Although it is still doubtful whether or not the mammary gland pro- 

 duces an internal secretion, extracts made from it have been used with 

 claimed benefit in various conditions. Feodoroff, Goldmann, Luncz, Os- 

 borne (a) and others, report a beneficial effect on uterine hemorrhage. 

 Bell, Feodoroff, Mekerttschiantz (a), and a number of others, are con- 

 vinced that the administration of mammary substance brings about a re- 

 markable diminution in the size of uterine fibroids. Mackenzie has claimed 

 that it is a true lactagog, but the observations of Gavin and Gaines speak 

 strongly against this view. 



The majority of the gynecologists of the present day do not appear 

 to accept any of the claims which have been made for the efficiency of 

 mammary therapy. It is noteworthy that recent literature contains very 

 few references to its employment. 



Pancreas 



Although the pancreas undoubtedly possesses at least one internal 

 secretion of great importance, no one has yet succeeded either in labora- 

 tory or clinic in obtaining by administration of pancreatic preparations 

 any effect whatever which could be attributed to the action of its internal 

 secretion. Various claims 52 to the contrary notwithstanding, there is 

 up to the present time no true organotherapy of the pancreas. The only 



"Such claims have been made by Rennie and Eraser, Walko, Combe, Cowles, 

 Zuelzer, Crofton, Harrower (a) and others, but there can be no question that these 

 authors have merely deceived themselves and others. 





