MECHANICS OF THE MASCULINE AND FEMININE 139 



in the cell-republic of the castrate by the other endocrines, the 

 thyroid, the pituitary, and the adrenals, determines which 'it is 

 to be. 



For normally, with feminine puberty, there is an increased 

 activity of the thyroid, the posterior pituitary and the adrenal 

 medulla. These changes indeed constitute the formula of normal 

 feminization. In the male, the ripening of the testes is accom- 

 panied or perhaps preceded by augmented function of the adrenal 

 cortex and the anterior pituitary. This difference in bio- 

 chemistry accounts for the contrast between the sexes in the skin, 

 hair, fat, cartilage (voice) and bone changes. Ovary and adrenal 

 medulla and posterior pituitary and thyroid predominance con- 

 stitute the feminine formula, Testis and adrenal cortex and 

 anterior pituitary predominance comprise the masculine endocrine 

 directorate. 



The Reactions of the Other Glands 



As in so many other aspects, the facts about the various 

 influences exerted by the endocrine glands upon the reproductive 

 system are complicated and disjointed. A chink of light has 

 been let in upon a dark cave, and slowly the chink will widen. 

 But the gross effects are clear. 



Around the ovary and the uterus, the endocrines gyrate as 

 the planets around the sun. The ovary is the organ for the 

 preservation and maturation of the germ plasm, that treasure 

 which the body is built but to cherish and hand on as a sacred 

 heirloom. The ova, the female egg cells, are the fundamental 

 concern of the ovary. Secondarily, it secretes its messengers to 

 keep the rest of the body, and particularly the other endocrines, 

 in touch with the necessities of the adventures of these ova. It is 

 thus enabled to bend every force and power at its command to 

 the service of the reproductive instinct. 



In learning their role so well in the course of evolution, the 

 thyroid, the pituitary and the suprarenal have become indispen- 

 sable stimulants (in various degrees peculiar to the individual), to 

 the primary function of the ovary. As a consequence, to hold 

 the sex stimulating glands in check, there had to appear others, 

 restraining them and so preventing sex precocity. These are the 

 thymus and pineal. So closely are they all related that insuffi- 

 cient action of the thyroid, pituitary or adrenals may cause 

 atrophy of the ovaries and uterus, with abolition of genital 



