THE ADRENAL GLANDS 79 



tex; that the hormone is there made from tyrosine, 

 one of the best known of our amino-acids, which 

 in turn are decomposition products of proteins ; * 

 and that the adrenaline, once formed, is passed to 

 the medulla, where it is stored. This is an attrac- 

 tive hypothesis, but, like many attractive hy- 

 potheses, lacks experimental proof. 



Another view of the function of the cortex is 

 that it destroys poisons either those produced in 

 (he course of body metabolism, due perhaps to 

 muscular activity (theory of auto-intoxication), or 

 (hose entering the body from the outside. Si ill 

 another theory is the one that stresses the close 

 relationship existing between the cortex on the one 

 hand, and (lie generative glands on the other. It 

 lias been said thai (he enlargement (hypertrophy) 

 of the adrenal gland goes hand in hand with pre- 

 cocious development of the reproductive organs. 



The medulla. When we come to discuss the 

 function of the medulla we are on much firmer 

 ground, for here we shall see we have a tissue that 

 contains a substance which itself induces some re- 

 markable changes. We must now discuss this sub- 

 sin nee adrenaline. 



Adrenaline. 2 The most significant advance made 

 in our study of the adrenals is the isolation, in a 



1 Sec tho chapter oft Ammo-Acids in the author's book on 

 Vitaniinrs. 



a 'llic relation of adrenaline to the nervous system is reserved 

 for Chapter XII. 



