24 THE PITUITARY GLAND 



On the other hand, Gushing holds that the cases 

 of infantilism and adiposity associated with non- 

 development of the sexual apparatus, are due to 

 deficient or absent secretion from the gland, usually 

 in consequence of tumour formation. 



He would further explain the appearance of 

 impotence, amenorrhcea, and subnormal temperature 

 in acromegaly by failure of the secretion after a 

 period of excess. Similarly, Graves' disease may 

 pass into myxcedema, hyperthyroidism ending in 

 hypothyroidism. If this were so, however, one would 

 expect to find that when the sexual organs began to 

 fail the bones would get smaller, or at least not con- 

 tinue to enlarge. The truth of this, however, is very 

 doubtful ; indeed the contrary is probably the case. 



THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF PITUITARY EXTRACT. 



As practical men, what do we gain by the researches 

 described ? 



We are the richer by a new and powerful diuretic, 

 which may prove itself as superior to caffeine and 

 digitalis as, in another direction, adrenalin is superior 

 to ergot and the styptics. 



Another field of usefulness may be found for 

 pituitary extract by giving it hypodermically or 

 intravenously to raise the blood-pressure in surgical 

 shock ; but it remains to be seen whether it will 

 prove to be more useful than saline injections contain- 

 ing adrenalin or ergot. The vasoconstrictor action 

 is much more prolonged than that produced by 

 adrenalin, and some good clinical reports of its value 

 have been published. It is no use to repeat the dose 



