

The General Physiology and Ex- 

 perimental Pathology of the 

 Suprarenal Glands 



FRANK A. HARTMAN 



BUFFALO 



Introduction 



Among all of the ductless glands there are none more important than 

 the suprarenals. This is shown by the deficiencies of pathological and 

 of experimental origin. Depriving an animal of its suprarenals is usu- 

 ally tantamount to depriving it of its life. This is true in spite of the fact 

 that in most animals both chromaphil and cortical tissue are commonly 

 present outside of the suprarenal glands proper. We must assume there- 

 fore that this accessory tissue is inadequate alone. On these grounds we 

 are justified in ascribing to the suprarenal glands the chief role among 

 the whole mass of chromaphil and cortical tissues. However, in em- 

 phasizing the function of the larger structure we must not ignore the 

 accessoTy tissue. 



Since the time of Addison investigators of many countries have at- 

 tempted to produce experimentally the syndrome which he in so masterly 

 a way described. None have really succeeded, due no doubt largely 

 to the fact that no satisfactory method has been found of gradually reduc- 

 ing suprarenal function. In most instances the animal has been suddenly 

 deprived of the major part of its active suprarenal tissue in one, or, at the 

 most, two steps. This permits neither time for readjustment nor time 

 for the appearance of chronic symptoms but merely demonstrates whether 

 the suprarenals are essential to life. 



Acute Suprarenal Insufficiency 



Results of Suprarenal Extirpation. Immediately following the 

 description of Addison's(fr) disease Brown-Sequard(a) studied the effect 

 of the removal of the suprarenal glands in rabbits, dogs, cats, guinea pigs 

 and rats. He observed that an animal died within a few hours or at most 

 one or two days after being deprived of its glands. 



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