154 THE DUCTLESS GLANDS 



I. Changes found Post Mortem after Extirpation of 

 the Adrenals 



Reference has already been made to pigmentary changes 

 after double extirpation (ree pp. 141, 142). 



Tizzoni reported severe lesions in the central and peripheral 

 nervous system. He describes also extensive destruction of 

 nerve fibres and ganglion cells, with marked congestion, 

 alterations in the vessel walls, and haemorrhages and leucocytal 

 infiltration in all parts of the nervous system. But his work 

 in this respect should be cautiously considered, for it must 

 be remembered that he records death after removal of one or 

 both adrenals, and this is opposed to the experience of every 

 subsequent investigator. 



Poll found in some cases among his rats after unilateral 

 removal and transplantation, numerous reddish-black spots 

 on the skin, but never on the mucous membranes. 



Hyperaemia and haemorrhages of the lungs have been 

 observed after both the bilateral and the unilateral operation. 

 Changes in other organs have only been noted by a few 

 observers. Donetti states that he found changes in the nerve 

 cells of the central nervous system of guinea-pigs and rabbits, 

 especially in the medulla oblongata. The nuclei of the cells 

 became vesicular, eccentric, and granular, and might disappear. 

 He also noted changes in the nerve-cell body. Acute ulcer 

 of the stomach has also been recorded. 



Moore and Purinton record cardiac thrombosis following 

 complete removal of the adrenals. The presence of ante- 

 mortem clots in the heart has been observed on numerous 

 occasions after adrenal extirpations in the laboratory of the 

 present writer. 



If the veins of both adrenal bodies be tied, the animal will 

 survive for a much longer period than after double extirpation. 

 But the operation is always fatal. The delay in fatal issue is 

 due to a collateral circulation through the kidney. 



J. Compensatory Hypertrophy of the Adrenals 



Numerous authors have described a compensatory hyper- 

 trophy of one adrenal after the removal of the other. Thus, 



