924 R. G. HOSKINS 



significant is the fact that decreased libido and potentia coeundi, and 

 even actual atrophy of the gonads, often occurs in this malady. A great 

 many instances of this are on record. A summary and discussion of the 

 literature may be found in Sattler's monograph., as well as the various 

 text-books. 



That hypothyroidism, either clinical or experimental, results in sex 

 depression that may be so pronounced as to amount to complete impotence 

 is well known. Gandy (1906), for example, described two clinical cases 

 that illustrate the relation of the thyroid to the sex function very con- 

 vincingly. His two patients, men of 25 and 33 years respectively, after 

 having attained a normal adult sexual condition, developed myxedema. 

 This was followed by reversion to a sexually infantile condition, indi- 

 cated by atrophy of the genitalia and impotence. Many other similar 

 cases are on record. Simonton (1919) has made the interesting observa- 

 tion that practically half the female and some of the male population of 

 the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania, suffer from goiter. Most cases 

 show definite hypothyroid symptoms. These are accompanied by scanty, 

 irregular menstruation in the females and subnormal genital development 

 in both sexes. In Simonton's cases, as in those of many other observers, 

 the administration of thyroid preparations has materially ameliorated the 

 symptoms of gonad depression. 



In experimental investigations, thyroidectomy has resulted, at the 

 hands of various observers, in a depression of the sex function with atrophy 

 or degeneration of the gonads. Such findings have been reported by 

 Hofmeister in the case of young rabbits, and by Lanz in goats. Lanz 

 reported also the case of a man in whom surgical thyroidectomy resulted in 

 a cretinoicl state. The testes became markedly atrophic. Ceni noted a de- 

 cided decrease in the production of eggs after thyroidectomy in hens. 

 Alquier and Theureny observed a marked depression of activity in the 

 testes after thyroidectomy in dogs. 



So well established is the idea that thyroid deficiency results in sexual 

 depression, that observers who have made thyroidectomies of recent years 

 have usually not considered it worth while to report specifically upon 

 sexual activities. Whether, however, the thyroid exercises an influence di- 

 rectly upon the sex glands is not so clear. Any process which retards 

 general metabolism is likely to result in sex depression; and similarly, 

 any general bodily stimulant is likely to result in augmented sex activity. 

 It is quite possible, therefore, that the sexual manifestation in various 

 thyroid perturbations are merely conditioned by the general metabolic 

 reactions. In any case, however, the end result is the same, whether the 

 effect be mediated directly or indirectly. 



Relation between Thyroid and Thymus. That the thymus is often 

 enlarged in cases of Graves' disease is well known. Apparently this was 

 first noted by Cooper in 1872. Capelle (1908) attempted to analyze the 



