INTERRELATION OF THE ENDOCRIX ORGANS 031 



or microscopic changes in the gonads of thymectomized rabbits. Lucien 

 and Parisot (1909) found the weight of the testes of 2 thymectomized 

 rabbits below that of their normal controls. The ovaries of 3 other rab- 

 bits, however, were slightly larger than the controls. Magnini (1912) 

 obtained negative results in rats, as did also Pappenheimer (1914). More 

 recently Park and McClure (1919) have made an extensive investigation 

 of the effects of thymectomy in dogs. They were able to detect no sig- 

 nificant difference in the gonads of the experimental and control animals. 

 On the whole there is little substantial evidence to indicate that the 

 thymus exercises any significant influence on the sex glands. 



Other Relationships 



That there is a relationship between the pineal gland and the gonads, 

 and between the suprarenal cortex and the gonads, is indicated by a con- 

 siderable number of data. The evidence will be found in the chapters 

 on Physiology and Experimental Pathology of the Pineal and of the 

 Suprarenal Glands respectively. 



Many other interrelationships than those herein discussed have been 

 postulated. In the opinion of the writer, however, there is not enough 

 definite evidence to render the matter worthy of formal discussion in 

 a work of this sort. The literature up to 1910 has been reviewed by 

 Hoskins (c) (1911). The literature since 1916 has been largely abstracted 

 in Endocrinology. 



Whether, as is often assumed, all the various endocrin organs stand in 

 intimate functional relationship with each other, has by no means been 

 demonstrated. The facile theorizing that has been indulged in by nu- 

 merous uncritical writers is not justified. A diagnosis of "pluriglandular 

 dystrophy" or "pluriglandular syndrome" is often merely camouflage 

 for ignorance. A great many more careful investigations are needed. 

 The problem is one of the most difficult in all biology. In its solution- 

 the demands of adequate technique, extensive data and rigid logic are 

 unescapable. These demands in the past have been largely ignored. 



