

8 CAKEY P. McCORD 



and development, is the peculiar abnormalities of growth and development 

 observed in young children, suffering from tumors of the pineal region. 

 The general background of clinical manifestations that have served to 

 initiate experimental investigations is summed up in the statement of 

 Frankl-Hochwart : "When one finds in a very young individual, along 

 with the general symptoms of tumor, as well as the signs of a lesion of the 

 corpora quadrigemina, abnormal body growth, unusual growth of hair, adi- 

 posity, somnolence, premature genital and sexual development, and finally 

 intellectual maturity, one must think of pineal tumor." 



The further portion of this chapter is an evaluation of the scientific 

 reports of physiologists, chemists, and experimental pathologists, to deter- 

 mine to what degree experimental evidence supports the clinician's con- 

 ception of the pineal's functions. These reports are based upon investi- 

 gations prosecuted along three general lines: (1) the administration, 

 orally or hypodermically, of pineal gland preparations followed by obser- 

 vations of any changes induced by pineal constituents; (2) the extirpation 

 of the pineal gland, followed by observations as to the results of the depri- 

 vation of whatever substances the gland may elaborate, and (3) chemical 

 analyses and physiologic assays of the glandular material with the aim of 

 obtaining active principles in purified form. 



Administration of Pineal Material 



Preparation of Materials. For extensive work, the procuring of suffi- 

 cient material in suitable form is not without difficulty. The weight of 

 the individual gland in cattle is about 0.2 gram and in sheep about 0.15 

 gram. As will be noted subsequently, glands from young animals yield 

 better results ; making use of the pineal gland of calves, it will be found 

 that approximately 3200 are required to produce one pound of the fresh 

 glands, which, on desiccation, lose approximately six-sevenths of their 

 weight, yielding slightly over 2 ounces of dried material. To produce a 

 pound of dry pineal substance, approximately 25,000 animals are required. 



The materials used by various workers for feeding experiments, and 

 for hypodermic administration have been prepared in many respects by 

 similar procedures. 



Desiccated Preparations. Without, at this time, making detail refer- 

 ences to trivial innovations by different investigators, the method for pre- 

 paring a usable desiccated pineal substance may now be described: 



(1) Only fresh glands are desirable. Being nerve tissue, deteriora- 

 tion is rapid. If glands are shipped for a long distance, they should be 

 frozen en masse prior to shipment. 



