PHYSIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY AND PATHOLOGY 557 



these characters by acting on the non-sexual embryonic form by means 

 of augmentation or inhibition. 



A useful summary of recent work on ovarian transplantation is given 

 by Martin (1917). In his conclusions he points' out that, from the stand- 

 point of practical medicine, the only form of ovarian transplantation which 

 is of real service is autotransplantation. This is of use in reducing the 

 symptoms of the artificial menopause brought about by complete ovari- 

 otomy. But the future of tissue transplantation, in the case of the ovary, 

 as well as of other organs and tissues, rests on a solution of the problem 

 of the homograft. It has recently been urged that after extirpation of the 

 uterus vasomotor disturbances ensue with approximately equal frequency 

 whether the ovaries be retained in situ, totally ablated, or transplanted, 

 and that retention of ovarian tissue after hysterectomy is of little or no 

 physiological value and may be productive of serious harm to the patient 

 (Graves (6), 1917). 



Sand (&) (1918) has more recently reported that, as a result of simul- 

 taneous transplantation of ovary and testis into a castrated animal, he 

 has succeeded in producing a true experimental hermaphroditism (somatic 

 and psychic). 



Chemistry of the Ovary and Physiological Action of 



Extracts 



The ovary does not yield to extracts any substance of such special char- 

 acter and importance, as, e. g., adrenin. Nor does a chemical investiga- 

 tion reveal the presence of any unusual ingredients as, e. g., iodin, in the 

 case of the thyroid. 



The physiological action of extracts is the same as that of extracts 

 from tissues generally, viz., a lowering of the blood pressure due to vaso- 

 dilatation in different regions of the body. The active substance is soluble 

 in alcohol and in ether, as well as in water. According to Champy and 

 Gley, there is a considerable difference in the activities of extracts from 

 different animals. Thus the extracts of the ovaries of the cow, sow, and 

 rabbit are very active, those of the dog and the human subject are only 

 slightly active, while the sheep and the mare yield inactive preparations. 

 The chemical substance to which these effects may possibly be due is 

 B-imidazolylethylamin (histamin, Vincent (c), 1918; Dale, 1911). 



Hallion injected extracts of dried ovaries in doses of five milligrams 

 into dogs and recorded a fall of the blood pressure, diminution in volume 

 of the kidney and nasal mucous membrane, and a marked increase in 

 the volume of the thyroid gland. It is very doubtful whether this result 

 is specific for ovary. 



Ovarian extracts have been stated to be toxic, and there can be no 



