232 VITALISM AND SCHOLASTICISM 



suprarenals, and up to a very recent time the 

 Adrenalin only fact that one knew about them, beyond the 

 anatomical information that they were rather 

 unusually richly supplied with blood vessels and 

 nerves, was that they were at times subject to a 

 rare form of disease in which the sick person 

 turned a more or less rich chocolate colour, a dis- 

 ease known, from its first describer, as Morbus 

 Addisonii. Now it is known that these little 

 bodies produce a most potent internal secretion 

 known as adrenalin, which amongst other things 

 is highly styptic and also seems to be poured 

 out with great freedom when the owner of the 

 glands is indulging in a fit of temper. This is 

 certain, that the amount of these secretions is 

 infinitesimal in relation to the far-reaching 

 effects which they produce; they are stimuli, 

 veritable sparks applied to piles of explo- 

 sives. Do tliese^organic catalysts, for thus we 

 may fairly describe them, follow the rule of 

 those of an inorganic nature and undergo no 

 change themselves ? It is perhaps too early in 

 the history of these very recently discovered 

 bodies to pronounce any very definite opinion 

 on this point. They are infinitesimal in relation 

 to the effects they produce; that, as we have 

 said, is clear. In certain cases they seem to 

 undergo oxidation and to be eliminated after 

 producing their effect, in which case their action 



