140 GLANDS IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 



course, makes it quite evident that the spleen can- 

 not compare in importance with other ductless 

 glands, such as the adrenal or the pancreas, the 

 absence of which causes death. This, however, does 

 not mean that the spleen is of no importance. 



Eddy in a recent review cites the following in 

 support of the theory that the spleen produces an 

 internal secretion: 1. Changes in erythrocytes 

 after splenectomy (removal of spleen) ; 2. Modifi- 

 cation of blood picture after hyperplasia (abnor- 

 mal multiplication of the tissue elements) of the 

 spleen, ameliorated in some cases at least by splen- 

 ectomy ; 3. Specific effects on the red blood corpus- 

 cles of injection of splenic extract. He acknowl- 

 edges that we know nothing of the chemical na- 

 ture of the hormone, but suggests that the chief 

 function of the spleen is to remove from the circu- 

 lation the disintegrated erythrocytes (red blood 

 cells), and to build erythrocytes (by stimulating 

 the erythrogenic, or blood corpuscle building power 

 of the bone marrow) . 



PINEAL ("Epiphysis") 



This is an organ the size of a pea, situated at the 

 base of the brain, behind and above the pituitary. 

 Descartes considered it the seat of the soul ! Like 

 the thymus, its importance seems to be chiefly in 

 the early stages of its existence if we are to be- 

 lieve many of the authors who have busied them- 



