150 



THE SEX-COMPLEX 



Etiology of 

 tubular 

 partial 

 herm- 

 aphroditism. 



Relation of 

 suprarenal 

 neoplasms 

 to tubular 

 partial 

 herm- 

 aphroditism. 



Etiology of 

 of the ' free- 

 martin.' 



secondary characteristics differ in sex -type from that of 

 the gonads, as already stated. 



In the etiology of partial hermaphroditism lies hidden 

 much of the mystery surrounding the causes of sex-de- 

 termination ; and attention may be recalled to the fact 

 that even though there be some sex-dominance inherent 

 in the early segmentation cells, there are probably other 

 controlling factors, which come into action later and 

 influence the sex-differentiation of the gonads. 



We have, indeed, some direct evidence as to the 

 causative factors in partial hermaphroditism. Glynn 1 , 

 who analyzed the cases recorded in Neugebauer's 

 comprehensive work on hermaphroditism 2 , states that 

 out of the 88 cases of female tubular partial hermaphro- 

 ditism 15 per cent, had obvious suprarenal neoplasms ; 

 while, on the other hand, only 0*7 per cent, of the male 

 tubular partial hermaphrodites had growths in the 

 suprarenal cortex. Moreover, as will be mentioned 

 directly, suprarenal tumours and disturbances in other 

 organs of internal secretion may influence the secondary 

 sex-characteristics in women previously normal in this 

 respect. 



Lillie 3 states that the 'free-martin' in cattle is a 

 female whose characteristics have been altered by the 

 hormones of the male twin. This investigator found 

 that in such cases there is a definite anastomosis between 

 the arterial and venous vessels in the chorionic mem- 

 branes which had become united. On the other hand, 

 he asserts that, if there be no anastomosis between 

 the chorionic vessels, the twin (when not a male) to 

 the male calf is not a ■ free-martin ' but a fertile 

 female. 



This is a very interesting and important series of 

 observations, and, if confirmed, they form most important 

 substantial evidence in regard to the views already 

 expressed. 



1 Glynn, E. E., Quart. Journ. Med., 1912, vol. v, p. 157. 



2 Neugebauer, F. L. von, Hermaphrodilismus, Leipzig, 1908. 



3 Lillie, P. R., Journ. Exper. Zool, 1917, vol. xxiii, p. 371 



