PHYSIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY AND PATHOLOGY 465' 



in the small feathers at the base of the tail. Egg production diminished 

 and some of the hens tried to cover other hens after the manner of the 

 cock. However, Smith (d) has clearly shown that the comb and wattles of 

 both hens and cocks are liable to similar changes in the absence of testicular 

 extracts. It is reported that the skeletal peculiarities resulting from 

 gonadectomy are not observed if young capons are given testicular 

 substance. 



Injections of saline extracts of the testis invariably give only a fall in 

 the systemic blood pressure without a preliminary or late rise (Miller and 

 Miller). Such reactions are common to many other tissues of the body, 

 hence no importance can be placed upon them. However, Oliver observed 

 moderate constriction of the vessels of the frog's mesentery following the 

 administration of saline extracts of the testes. The administration of 

 orchitic extracts and the active corpus luteum, according to Jean, results 

 in a diminution of the excretion of phosphoric acid. Liithje was unable 

 to demonstrate any change in the metabolism of calcium, phosphorus, and 

 magnesium after the administration of testicular extracts. However, the 

 feeding of calcium lactate and lactophosphates in small doses to young 

 chicks causes a marked growth of the body and reproductive organs in the 

 female, but does not affect the male (Pearl). Reach observed the effects 

 of testicular opothe'rapy on 26 subjects who showed edema and atrophic 

 testes or cryptorchidism. In 14 cases so treated there was complete allevia- 

 tion of the condition; no results whatever were obtained in the other 12 

 cases. 



The capacity for muscular work apparently is but little affected by 

 testicular extracts. However, according to Zoth and Pregel, the subcu- 

 taneous administration of orchitic extracts over a period of weeks during 

 muscular exercise results in an increase of as much as fifty per cent in 

 the muscular performance as shown by ergograph and dumbbell experi- 

 ments. These results led to the conclusion that the testes tend to reduce 

 nervous and muscular fatigue, but this conclusion is open to criticism, 

 inasmuch as continued exercise in itself is sufficient to increase muscular 

 activity. The testes, however, may exert some definite action on the neuro- 

 muscular apparatus, for Rocha has shown that the action of certain drugs 

 varies with the sexual cycle of the animal. 



It is true that the exhibition of testicular substance has marked influ- 

 ences upon the body in those suffering because of a gonadal want, but the 

 manner in which this is brought about is not known (Dixon (a) (&) ). The 

 many claims made for PoehPs "spermine," or so-called "active principle of 

 the testis," have not been confirmed. Rosenheim has isolated this same 

 substance, not only from the testes, but also from the pancreas, spleen, 

 brain, cancerous lymphatic tissue, cod's roe, and meat extracts. This ma- 

 terial is not present in serum, -blood or protein-free milk. According to 

 Dixon and Loisel, the active constituents of testicular extracts are nucleo- 



