THYMUS 139 



the pancreatic trypsin. It should, however, be 

 added that Pavlov, the Kussian physiologist, has 

 proved that the juice elaborated in the small in- 

 testine also contains a hormone (or enzyme?) 

 which activates the trypsin. 



From the large quantity of iron (in "organic" 

 combination) that the spleen contains, and from 

 studies in anemia, investigators have concluded 

 that it plays a part both in the formation and de- 

 struction of the red blood corpuscles, but this is by 

 no means certain. Others regard it as playing an 

 important part in immunity from the active pha- 

 gocytosis (destruction of micro-organisms by cells 

 such as the leucocytes, or white corpuscles of the 

 blood). The 'very recent work by Inlow disproves 

 the theory that the spleen regulates the digestive 

 power of the stomach a claim based on some ex- 

 periments which are cited to prove that the re- 

 moval of the spleen diminishes the activity of the 

 pepsin, the enzyme in the stomach. 



Curiously enough, the extirpation of the organ 

 was practised by the ancients, in the belief that it 

 improves the "wind" in runners. Extirpation is 

 not attended with fatal, or even particularly bad 

 results. It is practised in a disease called "splenic 

 anemia," "characterized by progressive enlarge- 

 ment of the spleen, attacks of anemia, and a tend- 

 ency to hemorrhages. . . ." Complete recovery 

 follows the removal of this organ. This, of 



