198 



THE SEX-COMPLEX 



Hyperplasia 

 of the pars 

 anterior in 

 pregnancy. 



observed ; indeed, the swelling of the fingers and face 

 commonly seen during gestation has been attributed 

 to the increased activity in the pituitary. After parturi- 

 tion these enlargements usually disappear. Marek 1 

 has recorded a case in which there was glycosuria 

 with the typical symptoms of acromegaly, all of which 

 disappeared during the puerperium. It is probable, 

 then, that the pituitary may play some part in the 

 disorders of pregnancy, but no facts have been discovered 

 which can be considered definitely pathognomonic. 



Another interesting question is whether the absence 

 of milk-secretion after parturition may be attributed to 

 hypoplasia or insufficiency of the pituitary, for probably 

 in normal circumstances the hyperplasia seen in preg- 

 nancy is maintained during lactation to influence the 

 calcium metabolism, if not to stimulate directly the 

 secretory cells of the mammary glands. 



Addison's 

 syndrome. 



Disorders of 

 pregnancy. 



Disturbances of the Suprarenal Secretion 



Suprarenal insufficiency. — This condition has re- 

 ceived recognition in Addison's syndrome, in which 

 there is an extensive derangement in the metabolism 

 with general asthenia. Amenorrhcea with sterility is 

 always found in this disease if it be at all advanced. 

 From experimental evidence it is probable that the 

 uterus undergoes some degree of atrophy. 



It has been suggested by Silvestri 2 that excessive 

 vomiting of pregnancy may be due to suprarenal in- 

 sufficiency, and this writer claims to have treated 

 hyperemesis successfully by the administration of 

 suprarenin. If this be so, the therapeutical effect is 

 probably somewhat complicated : the suprarenals, being 

 damaged by the toxaemia of pregnancy, allow an excessive 

 excretion of lime salts, and the loss of calcium may 

 induce a condition of acid intoxication with associated 

 vomiting. 



1 Marek, B>.,Zentralhl. f. Qynak., 1911, vol. xxxv, p. 1612. 



2 Silvestri, T., Sem. Med., 1909, vol. xxix, p. 535. 



