EFFECTS OF CERTAIN DKUGS AND POISONS 785 



Carbohydrate Metabolism. Pituitary substance does not alter the 

 blood content in diastase or sugar. (Watanabe.) 



Anterior Pituitary Lobe. Robertson found that feeding the anterior 

 lobe before adolescence retards growth. In adult animals growth how- 

 ever may be renewed. In mice growth retardation is followed by accelera- 

 tion, especially when tethelin is used. 



Partial removal of the anterior lobe of the pituitary leads to obesity 

 and other nutritional derangements. Total metabolism, body temperature 

 and growth become subnormal, as shown by Crowe, Gushing and Homans, 

 and F. G. Benedict and Homans. 



In acromegaly, which is associated with hyperactivity of the anterior 

 lobe, Bergeim, Stewart and Hawk found no change in the nitrogen or 

 sulphur metabolism, but have described a retention of calcium, magnesium 

 and phosphorus. 



Labbe and Langlois abolished glycosuria in a diabetic acromegalic by 

 a four months' course of hypophyseal therapy. The polyuria was not 

 affected. 



Other Gland Products Thymus Gland. Feeding thymus to am- 

 phibian larvae retards development while hastening growth. (Guder- 

 natsch.) According to Uhlenhuth(a) this gland secretes the substance 

 which induces the low calcium metabolism of parathyroid tetany. Thymus 

 injections produce emaciation and malnutrition in guinea-pigs, according 

 to Olkon. 



Parathyroid Gland. The relation to tetany has been referred to in 

 connection with calcium salts. Excision of the gland lowers carbohydrate 

 tolerance, as shown by Underbill and Hilditch. Koch (6) found that 

 removal of the parathyroid leads to the appearance of toxic bases (guani- 

 din, histamin, etc.) in the urine. 



In parathyreoprival tetany injections of horse parathyroids reduced 

 the creatinin excretion from 1342 to 612 milligrams per day. In rats 

 Kojima found the calcium excretion increased after parathyroidectomy. 



Spleen. Asher and his pupils have recently observed that removal of 

 the spleen augments the respiratory exchange in rats. He regards this 

 organ as antagonistic to the thyroid. While thyroidless rats appear to 

 tolerate low pressure (oxygen-lack) better than normal, the tolerance of 

 spleenless animals is weakened. 



Prostate Gland. Macht showed recently that prostate feeding stimu- 

 lates both growth and development in amphibian larvae. 



Testis. Castration of male rats results in diminished oxidations. 

 (Agnoletti, Kojima.) Jean found an increased phosphate excretion. 



Pineal Gland. In animals administration of pineal extracts is said 

 to hasten growth and development. (McCord.) 



