2Q4 INTERNAL SECRETION 



Matters are quite otherwise, however, in regard to the anti- 

 toxic activity of the suprarenal cortex. The anatomical and histo- 

 logical changes which take place in the suprarenal in infective 

 diseases, and in experimental poisoning with bacterial toxins, have 

 been described in an earlier chapter. Later experiments (Oppen- 

 heim and Loeper, Bernard and Bigart, Moschini, Nicolas and 

 Bonnamour) have shown beyond all doubt that poisoning with 

 metals is accompanied by structural changes in the cortical cells, 

 changes in the nature of the lipoid granules, as well as signs of 

 hyperplastic processes in the suprarenal cortex ; and that these 

 changes are even more marked in experimental infective and toxic 

 states induced by bacterial agents. 



The suprarenal lipoids are able to fix and neutralize toxins 

 in vitro. Myers showed that cobra toxin loses its toxicity if 

 mixed with an emulsion of suprarenal cortex, but that its toxicity 

 is unchanged by emulsion of the suprarenal medulla. According 

 to Elliott, diphtheria .toxin is not neutralized by suprarenal ex- 

 tract. Takati's experiments show that both phrenosin and 

 the oleic acid obtainable from it (Thudichum's neurostearic acid), 

 neutralize large quantities of tetanus toxin. Rosenheim and 

 Tebb drew attention to the large amount of oleic acids which the 

 suprarenal cortex contains. 



Further experiment is required, however, before the anti- 

 toxic activity of the interrenal system and- the part played therein 

 by the lipoids can be established. It is the business of future 

 investigators to decide whether the antitoxic process extends to 

 the products of normal metabolism, and whether the neutralization 

 of endogenous toxins is a physiological function of the interrenal 

 tissue. An antitoxic activity on the part of the suprarenal cortex, 

 and a relationship between this activity and the elaboration of 

 adrenalin in the suprarenal medulla, have long been assumed, but 

 the hypothesis is without sufficient foundation. A closer investi- 

 gation of the arguments in its favour shows that there are no 

 grounds for the assumption of a combined antitoxic and internal 

 secretory activity on the part of the suprarenals. 



If, however, we consider the possibility of the interrenal 

 system being a true internal secretory organ, which supplies a 

 specific hormone, different from adrenalin, to the blood-stream, 

 the assumption is supported by observations which point to the 

 suprarenal as an influential factor in the growth of the body, the 

 development of the sexual glands, and the changes which take 

 place during puberty in the normal human organism. There is 

 sufficient evidence in this direction to justify the inclusion of the 

 interrenal system among that group of organs which, like the 

 thyroid, thvmus, hypophysis cerebri, and the sexual glands, 

 exercise either a direct or indirect influence, by means of their 

 assimilatory hormones, upon the somatic and psychic develop- 

 ment of the individual. 



