PHARMACOLOGY OF HYPOPHYSEAL EXTRACTS 739 



assert that we have no evidence demonstrating or even indicating that the 

 one gland can take upon itself the specific and individual functions of 

 the other. 



The evidence of a generalized effect is ample. Comte (1898) and Erd- 

 heim and Stumme (1909) observed that the hypophysis tends to enlarge 

 in pregnancy, a condition in which altered metabolism is evident, but also 

 a condition in which thyroid enlargement has been noted. 



Pharmacology of the Hypophysis 



Effects of Hypophysis Feeding on Metabolism. The effects on 

 metabolism of feeding pituitary glands are similarly indicative. When 

 Schiff (1897) administered desiccated pituitary substance to a normal 

 human subject, to an acromegalic and to a patient having paralysis agi- 

 tans, he failed to detect any changes in the nitrogen output of any of his 

 subjects, but did obtain an increased phosphorus excretion from the two 

 diseased individuals. Moraczewski (1901) in his experiments on ani- 

 mals observed both an increased nitrogen and phosphorus excretion ac- 

 companied by a possible calcium retention. Oswald (1902) fed the gland 

 substance to dogs and got no effect on metabolism. Malcolm (1904) car- 

 ried out an extensive series of investigations, the results of which seemed to 

 indicate an increased nitrogen output and calcium retention. Thompson 

 and Johnson (1905-06) reported a stimulation of the metabolism expressed 

 in an increased nitrogen and phosphorus elimination, while Franchini 

 (1910) found disturbances of calcium and magnesium metabolism, which 

 supported Cerletti's (1907) observations that the administration of hypo- 

 physeal substance retarded bone growth. Schafer(fr) (1912) could find no 

 changes in metabolism though he seems to think that he obtained indica- 

 tions of an increased calcium and magnesium excretion. Recent work 

 by Hkmmett, Patten and Suitsu (1920) has shown that the administration 

 of small amounts of pituitary substance to man causes an increase in the 

 blood uric acid which continues long after the drug has been stopped. 



Effects of Hypophysis Feeding on Growth and Sexual Development. 

 Studies of the results of induced hyperpituitarism also demonstrate a 

 generalized rather than a specific effect. The experiments of Sandri 

 (1909), Goetsch(a) (1916), and others have shown that a definite retarda- 

 tion of growth occurs, though Schafer (a) (1909) did not obtain this result. 

 While the' hypophysis feeding retards growth it apparently stimulates an 

 increase in growth and activity of the generative tissues of both male and 

 female as Mayer (1910) and Goetsch(a) (1916) have shown, though 

 Simpson (1920) failed to obtain any increased egg production in fowls 

 under such treatment. As far as the activity of the secondary sexual or- 

 gans is concerned Gavin (1913) was unable to obtain any consistent in- 

 crease in mammary activity after the oral, subcutaneous or intravenous 



