70 THE GLANDS REGULATING PERSONALITY 



adrenal glands. In the lowest of the vertebrates, Petromyzon, the 

 two parts are distinct, the cells of the cortex-to-be are situated in 

 the walls of the kidney blood vessels, projecting as peninsulas in 

 the blood stream, the blood sweeping over and past them. The 

 medulla-to-be consists of cells accompanying the vegetative 

 nerves. Among reptiles, the two become adjacent for the first 

 time, and among birds one part occupies the meshes of the other. 

 The size of the cortex varies directly with the sexuality and the 

 pugnacity of the animal. The charging buffalo, for example, 

 owns a strikingly wide adrenal cortex. The fleeing rabbit, on the 

 other hand, is conspicuous for a narrow strip of cortex in its 

 adrenal. Human beings possess a cortex larger than that of 

 any other animal. 



No definite chemical substance has as yet been isolated from 

 the cortex. That remains a problem for the investigator of 

 the future. But certain observations, especially concerning the 

 relation between the development and behaviour of the so-called 

 secondary sex characteristics, those qualities of skin, hair and 

 fat distribution, physical configuration and mental attitudes, 

 which distinguish the sexes, and the condition of the gland, 

 indicate clearly that an internal secretion will be isolated, and 

 that it will in its activity furnish certain predictable features. 



Three different layers of cells, arranged in strings, that inter- 

 penetrate to form a network directly bathed by blood, that 

 breaks in upon them from open blood vessels, compose the 

 cortex. Most remarkable is this method of blood supply for it is 

 exceedingly common among the invertebrates and rare among 

 the vertebrates. 



In certain disturbances of these glands, especially when there 

 are tumors, which supply a massive dose of the secretion to the 

 blood presumably, peculiar sex phenomena and general develop- 

 mental anomalies and irregularities are produced. If the disease 

 be present in the fetus, taking hold before birth, and so brought 

 into the world with the child, there evolves the condition of 

 pseudo-hermaphroditism. The individual, if a female, presents 

 to a greater or less extent the external habits and character of 

 the other sex. So that she is actually taken for a man, although 

 the primary sex organs are ovaries, often not discovered to be 

 such except when examined after an operation or death. How 

 closely such an occurrence touches upon the problems of sex 

 rsion and perversion comes at once to mind. 



If the process involving the adrenal cortex attacks it after 



