96 THE PITUITARY AND 



is not likely to be realized in view of the fact that 

 Schafer has failed to verify his earlier observations 

 on young rats. 



THE USES OF PITUITARY EXTRACT. 



Pituitary extract, containing the principle found 

 in the posterior lobe which acts on unstriped muscle, 

 is now an ordinary article of commerce for many 

 therapeutic purposes. It is a favourite remedy for 

 surgical and toxaemic shock, and many observers are 

 convinced that it does good by raising the blood- 

 pressure. A very valuable effect is that it promotes 

 peristalsis even when purgatives fail or are vomited,, 

 as in cases of intestinal paralysis after abdominal 

 operations. A third indication is to increase labour 

 pains ; sometimes in cases of weak pains the child is 

 expelled very rapidly after an injection. It is a 

 powerful diuretic. As a galactagogue its success so 

 far has been doubtful. Feeding with the gland may 

 be valuable in some forms of amenorrhoea. 



Pituitary extract must not be given frequently at 

 short intervals, or its effect may be reversed. 



THE PINEAL GLAND. 

 It has been customary to look upon the pineal 

 gland as a developmental rehc. The functionless 

 unpaired eye of Hatteria, which appears to have been 

 present, possibly in functional form, in some fossil 

 reptiles, is supposed to be the substance of which the 

 pineal gland is the useless shadow. It would be 

 truly extraordinary if we had to believe that a super- 

 fluous relic had been handed down from the beginning; 



