THE OKGANS OF REPKODUCTION 113 



eration of all the ductless glands, and not merely 

 the genital glands. In one of his latest papers 

 (June, 1921) he says that he has been very success- 

 ful in arresting the signs of senility by a combina- 

 tion of thyroid and genital gland extract treatment, 

 especially in women. But let not the enthusiasm of 

 a few individuals make us too credulous. The sub- 

 ject has pitfalls at every step, and not only the in- 

 nocent layman, but many a physician is apt to slip. 

 Pubertds preco. So far our discussion has 

 been limited to cases of diminished or hypo-secre- 

 tion of the interstitial gland. 'We have seen that 

 such cases may occur naturally, as in eunuchoids; 

 and we are -probably not far wrong in including old 

 men and perhaps old women under this heading, 

 though their condition is much more complex. We 

 have already seen how the hypo condition can be 

 deliberately brought 'about by means of castration. 

 The grafting of another gland from a more vigor- 

 ous animal of the same species, or the adoption 

 of an operative technique whereby the interstitial 

 cells, and consequently their hormonic output, in- 

 creases, brings about cures that may, or may not 

 be permanent (our information on this point is 

 nowhere near as complete as it might 'be) . Now 

 the question naturally arises, are instances of ex- 

 cessive or hyper-secretion met with? And is it pos- 

 sible to induce such a hyper-secretion just as, let us 

 say, it is possible to induce a hyper-thyroidism? 



