VIRILISMUS 359 



The changes which occur vary in degree and according to the sex and 

 age of the individual. In boys there is an intensification of their male char- 

 acters: the body grows, the testicles develop and sexual maturity occurs. 

 In young girls the greater degree of maleness throws the female characters 

 into the background : the ovaries fail to mature while hairiness and other 

 male qualities appear. In older women atrophy of the ovaries occurs and 

 menstruation ceases. 



Variations in the development of hairiness, stature, strength, obesity 

 and of the genitalia show the variations in the degree of effects produced. 



Disturbances of Endocrine Glands other than the 

 Suprarenals and the Gonads in Virilism and Hirsutism 



The alterations which have been found in the thyroid, pituitary and 

 pineal glands associated with abnormal sexual conditions point to a re- 

 lationship among them in sexual development, which is not understood. 

 What relation they bear to the suprarenals in virilismus and hirsutismus is 

 not clear. In Glynn's case the thyroid was found congested and gave the 

 "impression of over activity." In other cases these endocrines were not 

 examined or were found normal. 



Conclusion: 



At the present, we are justified in believing that virilismus and hirsutis- 

 mus are caused by increased functioning of the suprarenal cortex varying 

 in degree and due in some instances to hypernephromatous growth of the 

 suprarenal cortex. 



