174 FRANCIS M. POTTESTGER 



apparentlytnot to the same extent as are the sympathetics. In fact, the 

 general nature of this disease is such that the excitability of all of the 

 nerves, hoth voluntary and vegetative, is reduced. In hypothyroid condi- 

 tions the psychic activities also are depressed. The patient is sluggish in 

 thought and action, slow of speech, and shows an unusual desire for 

 sleep. 



The Hypophysis and the Autonomic System 



The hypophysis or pituitary is made up of three parts, the pars ante- 

 rior, pars intermedia, and pars nervosa. These three parts are different in 

 structure and function. The pars anterior is supplied by sympathetic 

 nerves, which, according to Bell, were first fully described by Berkeley. 

 While the pars nervosa has many neuroglia cells and fibers, yet Bell (c), 

 writing in 1919, says : "No evidence has yet been adduced to show that the 

 sympathetic nerves leave the blood vessels in the pars nervosa as in the case 

 of the pars anterior. It has been suggested, however, that such fibers may 

 possibly reach the pars intermedia from the pars anterior." Weed, Gush- 

 ing, and Jacobson and Shamoff have adduced evidence that stimulation 

 of the superior cervical sympathetic causes increased secretion. This, 

 according to the first mentioned observers, may result in glycosuria. 



The relationship of the pituitary to the vegetative nerves is far from 

 clear. While the gland is considered as belonging to the same group as 

 the suprarenal s and thyroid, and to be sympathicotropic in action, the 

 symptoms which arise from injecting products of the gland are partly to 

 be attributed to sympathetic stimulation, and partly to parasympathetic. 6 

 The effect on the vascular system varies according to the dosage, the same 

 as it varies according to the degree of stimulation of the sympathetic 

 nerves. On this account, Bayer and Peter think that there must be two 

 active principles responsible for these various and opposing symptoms. As 

 a result of injections of an extract of the pars intermedia and pars poste- 

 rior, thet following effects have been noted: the vessels are constricted 

 (Oliver and Schafer) ; the heart may be slowed as a result of contraction 

 of the peripheral vessels (Howell) ; diureses is produced 7 (Magnus and 

 Schafer) ; contraction of the bladder takes place (v. Frankl-Hochwart 

 and Frohlich) ; no effect is produced on the resting uterus, but marked con- 

 traction of the menstruating or pregnant organ (Dale (a), Bell and Hick, 

 and Bell (a)} ; there is marked contraction of the stomach and intestinal 

 musculature (Bell) ; an increase in gastric secretion (Houssay and Maag) ; 

 an increase of the secretion of the mammary gland (Ott and Scott) ; an 



"Most of the effects of hypophyseal extracts are due, according to the best evi- 

 dence now available, to stimulation of the tissue cells directly R. G. H. 



7 This is true under certain experimental conditions only. The use of pituitary 

 extract to relieve the polyuria of diabetes insipidus is an illustration of a contrary 

 effect. R. G. H, 



