98 THE GLANDS REGULATING PERSONALITY 



Ego, the Psyche or the Soul. Lately, a competitor with these 

 ancient and honorable terms has come upon the scene as the 

 Subconscious. In that darkened No Man's Land is determined 

 a man's destiny. The endocrine association stands out as at 

 least the most important physical determinant of the states and 

 processes of the subconscious. 



Antagonisms and Co-operations 



As within a corporation there are factions and cliques, influ- 

 ences that always work together, and forces that are always 

 pulling in opposite directions, so within the interlocking direc- 

 torate of the ductless glands there are antagonisms and inhibi- 

 tions, co-operations and compensations. One gland will assist 

 the action of another's secretion with its own, or will in turn be 

 stimulated to secrete by it. Another will throw out its secretion 

 in order to neutralize the effects produced. Or its own activity 

 will be depressed or completely inhibited by it. Thus the pitui- 

 tary arouses the interstitial glands and vice versa, whereas the 

 pancreas and the thyroid are mutually inhibitory. Indeed, whole 

 systems of glands may work in unison, or be pitted against each 

 other in certain situations, especially when the organism is sub- 

 jected to conflicting impulses with the clash of opposing instincts, 

 like fear and anger. In general there is reciprocity and team 

 work among the internal secretions. 



A certain minimum amount of each must be present if life 

 is to continue along the normal lines. Whether there is ,to be 

 an excess of any one secretion above this minimum, or a de- 

 ficiency below it, decides the fate of the individual. If there is 

 deficiency of one, the other members of the directorate attempt 

 to make up for what has been lost, and to carry on its work by 

 an extra effort, to substitute. Or, released from the discipline of 

 the deficient member, or the necessity for antagonizing it, they 

 may be released from its stimulus to secrete, and produce less of 

 their own specific secretion. A general reaction all along the line 

 will accompany overaction, oversecretion, of one gland. Due to 

 consequent stimulations and depressions of other glands, some 

 m:iy be excited by the event to overwork — some to assist — 

 others, to act as antidote for — the excess secretion, while still 

 others, relieved of a burden, do not have to supply as much of 

 quota under the circumstances and so shut down, or limit 

 their output. 



