CONCLUSIONS ON GLANDULAR THERAPY 



Feeding desiccated glands stimulated the patients in almost 

 every case. In one or two instances this stimulation seemed to 

 increase their troubles, and they became more irritable and upset, 

 but as a rule it proved beneficial in varying degrees. Some gave 

 the impression of being forced to extrovert and to notice the en- 

 vironment in spite of themselves; others seemed to develop a 

 spontaneous normal interest in their surroundings. 



The most spectacular change was in the convalescent Nolan, 

 who out of abject laziness was suddenly transformed into a 

 fairly energetic boy, interested in his daily work and even plan- 

 ning it ahead. His improvement lasted throughout the few weeks 

 until he was discharged. Dixon was enabled to repress his 

 perverse cravings for half an hour at a time, and thus obtained 

 periods of respite from the torturing " influence " used on him. 

 Tocci's depressions, which had come regularly two or three times 

 a week, now occurred much less frequently and were not so 

 deep, but this improvement disappeared in a few weeks. O'Neil 

 and Quitner continued their steady convalescence with no very 

 apparent acceleration. But Riegel after a few weeks of glandu- 

 lar therapy improved considerably. For many months his con- 

 dition had remained stationary in spite of hospital protection and 

 occupational therapy. 



At first the effects of gland feeding were so spectacular that 

 we expected great benefit from it, but as time passed, the im- 

 provement gradually faded even while treatment was still being 

 given. After it was stopped, the patients returned practically to 

 their former condition with the exception of those who had 

 previously begun to convalesce. Riegel started to regress before 

 he was transferred to another hospital. 



Although the effects of gland feeding seem to be temporary, 

 this treatment may possibly be of great value in breaking into 

 the so-called vicious cycle of mental disease, particularly in the 

 early stages. A combination of thyroid stimulation and psycho- 

 analysis might be an excellent method of attacking incipient 

 schizophrenia. 



no 



