356 THE DUCTLESS GLANDS 



6. General Physiological Effects (Subcutaneous and Intravenous 



Injections) 



In 1899, Schafer and Vincent reported that they had made 

 a few experiments upon the effects which can be produced by 

 the subcutaneous injection of decoctions of the infundibular 

 part of the pituitary body. These were performed upon mice 

 and young rats, and, although the dose required was much 

 greater, showed that the pituitary extracts can produce results 

 resembling in a general way those of adrenal extracts. They 

 cause quickened respiration, increased heart's action, and 

 ultimately paralysis, beginning in the hind-limbs. 



Similar experiments have since been carried out by many 

 observers. Diuresis, hsematuria, and albuminuria have been 

 recorded. Etienne and Parisot further record a permanent 

 hypertension as the result of repeated injection of pituitary 

 extracts. 



It is stated that the effects of subcutaneous injection are 

 modified by previous injection of thyroid extract, or extract 

 made from the anterior lobe of the pituitary body or the 

 pharyngeal pituitary. 



The toxic effects of pituitary extracts are not nearly so 

 pronounced as those of the adrenals. The symptoms observed, 

 in addition to those mentioned above, are apathy and somno- 

 lence, excitation followed by muscular weakness, sudden 

 cessation of heart-beat, and loss of weight after repeated injec- 

 tions, cardiac hypertrophy, ulceration, and haemorrhages in the 

 intestine, and hypersemia and haemorrhages in the kidney. 



Urechia found that a reinjection after an interval of ten days 

 gave rise to symptoms of an anaphylactic nature. 



E. The Question as to which Elements of the Pituitary 

 Body furnish the Active Substance or Substances 

 Functions of the Different Parts of the Pituitary 

 Body 



As we have already seen, Howell discovered that it is from 

 the posterior lobe only that active extracts can be obtained. 

 This was confirmed by Schafer and Vincent. The observation 

 was contrary to what might have been expected, since, from the 

 Distinctly glandular na.ture of the anterior lobe, it would apj 



